Ballard, Boynton, 2nd rd pick traded for Olli Jokinen

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Link coming. Not Ballard!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Here are Jokinen's stats: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid[]=28403

If he returns to the form he had the season before last, it is a solid deal. Losing Ballard is still hard to accept though. Without him and Boynton, the team's defense is perilously thin.

 

[nooch]

Steal for the coyotes though. I will miss Bally as well, but wow got OJ for the cheap.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Yeah, its a lot less than what I thought Jokinen would go for. It will be interesting to see what the Coyotes do about their defense though. They may not be done making deals today.

 

[nooch]

Yeah, its a lot less than what I thought Jokinen would go for. It will be interesting to see what the Coyotes do about their defense though. They may not be done making deals today.

Yes kinda concerned about the defense as well.

 

[Scott MS]

Interesting move. I would suspect Yandle will move into the lineup next season and the Coyotes should be going after a defensemen in Free Agency.

At least this trade shows they are serious. It's nice to get a top notch scorer on the team.

 

[Jersey Girl]

A lot of the fans at Upper Deck were not happy that Ballard was part of that deal. There were cheers for Jokinen ... until they announced Ballard would be leaving town.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

A lot of the fans at Upper Deck were not happy that Ballard was part of that deal. There were cheers for Jokinen ... until they announced Ballard would be leaving town.

How was the crowd? I couldn't get out of work early enough, but the Coyotes draft parties usually have a lot of people there.

 

[spikecop02]

awesom trade, bally will be missed and now my ballard shirt is old, but a great 1st line scorer

 

[boondockdrunk]

I do not understand this deal. Yes Jokinen is a great talent, but he is also almost 30. Trading away a budding star in Ballard to get another star whose best years are almost behind him.... I just don't know. Are the Coyotes committed to their young talent or not? I really wish the front office would make up their minds.

I just see this as Jovo part II.

 

[Lefty]

I do not understand this deal. Yes Jokinen is a great talent, but he is also almost 30. Trading away a budding star in Ballard to get another star whose best years are almost behind him.... I just don't know. Are the Coyotes committed to their young talent or not? I really wish the front office would make up their minds.

I just see this as Jovo part II.

Ballard is a very good player but he is not a superstar. The consensus among hockey fans on the other boards, including the Panthers is that the Coyotes robbed them.

 

[Scott MS]

In NHL terms, Ballard was about average. Jovo and Morris were the all-stars on defense last season.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Ballard is a very good player but he is not a superstar. The consensus among hockey fans on the other boards, including the Panthers is that the Coyotes robbed them.

The trade is growing on me... however, I still do not like giving up Ballard. Not to mention, what on earth are we going to do on the defensive end? I will be interested to see how the free agency period will round out.

 

[Jersey Girl]

How was the crowd? I couldn't get out of work early enough, but the Coyotes draft parties usually have a lot of people there.

Lots of nice, fun people there. Definitely a fun party.

 

[Desert Rat]

I hated seeing Ballard getting dealt, but Ballard getting smoked by Rick Nash is still fresh in everyone's mind and too many times late in the season he made mistakes. It's not often that you can grab a #1 center for two defensemen. Boynton is certainly replaceable. Jokinen is very durable and it is great to have someone match up against Thornton. He takes the weight of the world off Doan and Mueller. He is durable, but almost 30. He has never played on a particularly good NHL team, is that because of him, you wonder.

The Coyotes must sign a free agent defenseman, there are plenty out there. Yandle, Morris, Jovo, Michalek and Jones are it right now. Ross and Ahnelov NHL-ready yet? I doubt it. The Coyotes won't want to pay Wade Redden or Brian Campbell the money they'll demand. Steve Montador and John-Michael Liles are guys I would expect them to chase.