Ex-Gopher Ballard gets paid.

The Hockey News blog had a nice blurb on ex-Gophers and Lake of Woods Bears hockey star Keith Ballard’s and the fat contract extension that he recently signed. Ballard is set to be paid 25.2 million dollars over 6 years, that contract put him in the top echelon of former WCHA players. This season Ballard will make a messily 2.5 million this season, the last year of a contract that he signed when he in Phoenix.

Keith Ballard will stand tall on Florida's blueline
By Adam Proteau
• I still believe the Florida Panthers will be life-and-death to make the playoffs this season, but I’m also of the opinion the acquisition of burgeoning defenseman Keith Ballard (in the deal that sent Olli Jokinen to Phoenix) is going to pay handsome dividends for the franchise for years to come. Six years, at least.

The 25-year-old Ballard was a favorite of Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky, which tells you how desperate Phoenix was to beef up their veteran ranks for their own run at the post-season. Although it’s true his offensive numbers have fallen every year since his rookie campaign of 2005-06, Ballard is almost guaranteed to set new career offensive bests now that he’ll be on the Panthers’ first power play unit.