Tanev Gets Called Up || January, 20. 2012

With Chris Tanev being called up to replace Sami Salo, he's being paired with Edler (for now).  That either means that Coach AV has a ton of faith in this kid, or he is putting him with Edler so he can cover for Tanev IF he screws up.  From what we saw last year - especially in the playoffs - I think it's got more to do with the first one.

In the past, Tanev was paired with Ballard, and that's usually when Ballard played his best hockey.  Tanev is more of a calm, stay at home defencemen, which helps when you have Ballard run-and-gunning up the ice.  Now that Tanev is with Edler though, what's that mean for Ballard?  I think it's pretty apparent that Ballard and Alain Vigneault don't really get along, for whatever reason.  Now, instead of pairing the one player with Ballard that really boosts each persons skill set, he kind of leaves Ballard in the dust.

I think Ballard will be traded before the dead line, depending on how Tanev looks.  If Tanev plays decent, not even outstanding, but as long as he doesn't give the puck away and makes simple and smart plays, then I think Ballard will be gone sooner rather than later.  That's a lot of cap space to have only play 14-15 minutes per game.  I think Ballard is a great defencemen and will put up some impressive numbers, but not on Vancouver.  Wrong coach, wrong style of play.  A good fit for him might even be Chicago (as much as that hurts to say) but then we'd have to play him and I don't think that would be wise.

Tanev will play just fine, which is great for the future because he will essentially take Salo's spot when he retires.  If Ballard does end up getting traded, who should we get in return? A replacement D-man, or a forward? Or do we just put him on waivers and just shed the salary?  Now it's your turn to talk, let me know what you think.