In 2003, he helped the Golden Gophers to their second consecutive NCAA Championship after posting 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 45 games, and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2004.
Originally a first-round pick in 2002, the Phoenix Coyotes acquired Ballard on Mar. 9, 2004 from Colorado with Derek Morris for Chris Gratton, Ossi Vaananen and a 2nd round choice in the 2005 Entry Draft.
In his first professional season, Keith has played in 41 games with Utah, collecting 2 goals, 12 assists, 56 penalty minutes, and currently leads all Grizzlies defensemen in assists and points.
There was some speculation that Ballard would have been playing in the NHL this season if not for the lockout.
He needed some time in the AHL, and by virtue of the lack of virtue of both the owners and the Players Association, he's been given that chance to dip his toes into the pro pond.
It is easy to see that his game has really improved this year, and he is making the most out of his playing time in the minors.
As talks have fallen apart (again) as of this publication, look for him to be one of the prime candidates for a fill-in spot if the NHL opens its doors to all comers willing to accept the salary cap. If he keeps his skills this sharp and improving, he is a strong candidate for an NHL spot in 2006 or 2007.
