Keith Ballard

Keith Galen Ballard (born November 26, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey player. A defenseman, he previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) for three seasons. After his freshman year, he was selected 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL entry draft. Before he made his NHL debut, he was traded twice – initially to the Colorado Avalanche, then to the Phoenix Coyotes. He played his professional rookie season in 2004–05 with the Coyotes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, then debuted with Phoenix the following season. After three years, he was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he spent two seasons before being dealt to Vancouver at the 2010 NHL entry draft.

Internationally, Ballard has represented the United States in four World Championships, winning bronze in 2004. He has also played in two junior tournaments – the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships and 2002 World Junior Championships.

Playing career Junior and college (1999–2004) Ballard played two seasons at the junior level in the United States Hockey League (USHL), initially with the United States National Development Team in 1999–00, then the Omaha Lancers the following season. He recorded 51 points over 56 games in 2000–01. With a league-leading 22 goals among defensemen, he earned First Team All-Star honors and a selection to the 2001 USHL All-Star Game. In the post-season, he helped the Lancers win the Clark Cup as league champions, In the first round of the subsequent WCHA playoffs, he scored the series-clinching goal in overtime to eliminate North Dakota.

The following year, Ballard recorded a college career-high 41 points over 45 games, fourth among NCAA defensemen and third in team scoring. Ballard received NCAA West Regional All-Star honors for his efforts during the tournament. Ballard served as captain in place of Grant Potulny when the latter was sidelined with injury. He was voted by his teammates as Minnesota's most valuable player and received WCHA First All-Star Team, WCHA All-Tournament Team and NCAA West First All-Star Team honors. However, the Golden Gophers failed to defend their national championship, losing their regional final to Minnesota-Duluth.

Ballard left the Golden Gophers seventh all-time among team defensemen with 33 goals.

Phoenix Coyotes (2004–08) Ballard was selected in the first round, 11th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL entry draft. The choice was seen as a surprise by draft observers, as he was projected to be a late first-round to second-round pick. Ballard himself professed the early selection to be unexpected, saying he was ready to be drafted between the 20th and 40th positions. The following year, he was traded again to the Phoenix Coyotes, along with defenseman Derek Morris, for forward Chris Gratton, defenseman Ossi Väänänen and a second-round pick in the 2005 draft.

Ballard signed with Phoenix a year later to an entry-level contract worth an annual $1.2 million over three years, including bonuses. Ballard finished with 8 goals and 39 points as a rookie; both remain career highs. He led all NHL defensemen in shorthanded goals with three. Ballard was sidelined for 13 games in his second NHL season due to a bone fracture in his hand, suffered while blocking a shot during a game on October 9, 2006. He went on to record 27 points in 69 games. In the off-season, he was re-signed on August 29, 2007, to a two-year contract. In 2007–08, Ballard recorded a career-low 21 points.

Florida Panthers (2008–2010) During the 2008 NHL entry draft, Ballard was dealt (along with defenseman Nick Boynton and a second-round pick in the draft) to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Olli Jokinen. Upon trading for Ballard, Florida head coach Jacques Martin heralded him as the club's number-two defenseman, behind Jay Bouwmeester. The deal came with a season remaining on his existing contract, previously signed with the Coyotes. he missed two games before returning to the lineup. Ballard, who apologized to Vokoun following the game, was not disciplined by the Panthers or the NHL. However, there has been some controversy over whether the slash to Vokoun's head was intentional or not. He went on to match his career-high eight goals and added 20 assists for 28 points in his second season with the Panthers. He also ranked third in the league in blocked shots with 201. Ballard had played parts of the season with a hip injury.

Vancouver Canucks (2010–2013) Ballard (left) stands with Canucks teammates Alexander Edler and captain Henrik Sedin in November 2010. On June 25, 2010, during the 2010 NHL entry draft, Ballard was traded to the Vancouver Canucks (along with Victor Oreskovich) in exchange for Michael Grabner, Steve Bernier and Vancouver's first-round pick, the 25th overall selection ultimately used to select Quinton Howden. After spending two months of the off-season on crutches while recovering from surgery, he reported to the Canucks' training camp, but struggled in the pre-season. He was subsequently sidelined for five games. It marked the first time in his career he was a healthy scratch. Several months later, Ballard suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee during a game against the Ottawa Senators on February 7, 2011. The injury resulted from opposing forward Milan Michalek tripping him from behind, which Canucks general manager Mike Gillis pointed out did not occur anywhere near the puck, alluding to the play as illegal and disrespectable. Ballard finished his first regular season with career lows in games played (65), goals (2), assists (5), points (7) and average ice time per game (15 minutes and 14 seconds). His individual struggles came amidst a franchise record season for the Canucks, who won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's regular season champion for the first time in team history. Entering the playoffs as the first seed in the West, the Canucks advanced past the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks to qualify for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. Facing the Boston Bruins, Vancouver lost the Stanley Cup in Game 7. Over the team's 25 playoff games, Ballard dressed for 10. Playing only one game of the final two rounds, he dropped in the depth chart behind Aaron Rome and rookie Chris Tanev.

Ballard continued to be used as a third-pairing defenseman in his second season with Vancouver. He missed five contests in November and December 2011 due to a back injury, His season ended with 1 goal and 7 points over 47 games. His third season with the Canucks was shortened by the 2012–13 NHL lockout. When the season started, Ballard was again on the Canucks' third pairing, with Tanev. Early in the season, the two were the Canucks' most consistent pairing. An injury to Kevin Bieksa allowed Andrew Alberts to get into the line-up and split the Ballard–Tanev pairing. After Bieksa's return, it was Ballard who was removed from the line-up, becoming a healthy scratch. In late March, Vancouver suffered several injuries up front, and to help fill the void, Ballard returned to the line-up as a forward. He played three games before suffering a broken foot. Though he was healthy by the playoffs, Vancouver opted to play Alberts and rookie Frank Corrado in their first round elimination to San Jose. He cleared waivers before Vancouver ultimately bought him out. Two days after becoming a free agent, he signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Minnesota Wild.

In his second season with the Wild, Ballard was hit by the New York Islanders' Matt Martin after making a pass. The hit was delivered as Ballard turned away from Martin. Ballard's head struck a glass partition and as he fell his head bounced off the ice. He lay on the ice for a few minutes before being able to leave the ice on his own. Ballard suffered a concussion and multiple facial fractures as a result. He was taken to Regions Hospital for evaluation and observation and released the next day. There was no penalty or suspension in result of the hit.

As a free agent in the 2015 off-season, Ballard was still suffering from post-concussion syndrome and opted to end his professional career to pursue studies in sport science at the University of Minnesota.

International play

Ballard made his international debut with Team USA at the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships in Switzerland. He was named to the squad while playing in the National Under-18 Development Program for the 1999–2000 season. He contributed a goal and an assist in six games, as the United States finished in eighth place. Two years later, Ballard was named to the under-20 squad for the 2001 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. He played in seven games, recording a goal and an assist. The United States lost in the quarterfinal to Russia and went on to place in fifth after defeating Sweden 3–2 in a consolation match.

Following his third year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Ballard debuted with the United States men's team for the 2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic. He was named to the squad after forward Scott Gomez withdrew himself for personal reasons. As the lone NCAA player on the national squad, he helped the United States to a bronze medal finish. His lone goal of the tournament and first career goal in men's international competition came during a 7–1 round-robin win against Ukraine.

Three years later, Ballard began a three-year stretch of consecutive appearances at the World Championships. He recorded an international career-high three assists at the 2007 tournament in Russia as the United States were eliminated in a 5–4 shootout loss to Finland in the quarter-final. Competing in Quebec City and Halifax, the following year, Ballard recorded two assists in five games while ranking seventh among team defensemen in average ice time per game. The United States finished in sixth place, losing in the quarter-final to Finland. Ballard made his second bronze medal game appearance with the United States at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, but lost to Sweden by a 4–2 score. He contributed a goal and two assists in nine games while ranking second on the squad in plus-minus with a +3 rating and sixth among team defensemen in average ice time per game.

Playing style Ballard is a two-way defenseman, capable of contributing both offensively and defensively. Known for his hard hitting, specifically with hip checks, he led his club in hits during his first five years in the NHL. He is also proficient in shot-blocking. Offensively, Ballard is noted as a quick and smooth skater, making him able to start plays from the defensive zone. He has a reputation as a player with intensity and a competitive edge.

Personal life Ballard was born in Baudette, Minnesota, to parents Steve and Joanne. He has a sister, Jessie. He was a multi-sport athlete during high school, having earned an All-Conference selection as a fullback and linebacker playing football and finishing as Conference championship runner-up as a golfer.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1999–2000 US NTDP Juniors USHL 58 12 21 33 119 — — — — — 2000–01 Omaha Lancers USHL 56 22 29 51 168 10 1 6 7 8 2001–02 Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA 41 10 13 23 42 — — — — — 2002–03 Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA 45 12 29 41 78 — — — — — 2003–04 Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA 37 11 25 36 83 — — — — — 2004–05 Utah Grizzlies AHL 60 2 18 20 88 — — — — — 2005–06 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 82 8 31 39 99 — — — — — 2006–07 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 69 5 22 27 59 — — — — — 2007–08 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 82 6 15 21 85 — — — — — 2008–09 Florida Panthers NHL 82 6 28 34 72 — — — — — 2009–10 Florida Panthers NHL 82 8 20 28 88 — — — — — 2010–11 Vancouver Canucks NHL 65 2 5 7 53 10 0 0 0 6 2011–12 Vancouver Canucks NHL 47 1 6 7 64 4 0 1 1 2 2012–13 Vancouver Canucks NHL 36 0 2 2 29 — — — — — 2013–14 Minnesota Wild NHL 45 2 7 9 37 3 0 0 0 0 2014–15 Minnesota Wild NHL 14 0 1 1 26 — — — — — NHL totals 604 38 137 175 612 17 0 1 1 8

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2000 United States WJC18 8th 6 1 1 2 4 2002 United States WJC 5th 7 1 1 2 4 2004 United States WC 8 1 0 1 2 2007 United States WC 5th 7 0 3 3 16 2008 United States WC 6th 5 0 2 2 16 2009 United States WC 4th 9 1 2 3 2 Junior totals 13 2 2 4 8 Senior totals 29 2 7 9 36

Awards Award Year USHL All-Star Game 2001 WCHA First Team 2003-04 AHCA West First-Team All-American 2003–04 John Mariucci Award (Minnesota Golden Gophers MVP) 2003-04 WCHA All-Tournament Team 2004 Hobey Baker Award finalist 2004