Keith Ballard considers retirement after horrific hit vs. Islanders

Keith Ballard hasn’t suited up for the Minnesota Wild since Dec. 9. The 32-year-old defenseman suffered three facial fractures and (another) concussion after Matt Martin of the New York Islanders checked him between the benches and Ballard’s head was crushed along the top of the boards.

He may not suit up again for the Wild, or anyone else. As he tells Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, he’s contemplating retirement:

Ballard said during his last concussion that he’s worried about his future and wants to make sure he’s healthy in his post-hockey career as a husband and dad to two children. He said that again today.

“I’m not ready to decide that stuff, but knowing what we know about concussions, I have to think about the long-term,” Ballard said. “I’ve had three in 14 months, five in five years, not to mention all the times you get hit and say, ‘I’ve got my bell rung,’ and you’re dizzy for a period. That happens probably a lot more than people know. I have to think about the long-term effects, but again, I’m not ready to make that decision yet. But answering it honestly, yeah, I’m going to think about it.”

Here’s that hit again, for which Martin wasn’t given any supplemental discipline from the NHL:

On his post-playing life, Ballard said:

“That’s still more important to me than playing hockey. But I’m not going to make that decision right now. I’m going to let this play out and see how I feel. Hopefully things clear up and I can get back and play. But if it’s a choice between trying to stick it out and play and maybe say you’re feeling well when you’re not and getting hit again or just deciding it’s time to be done, that’s a decision for down the road. But it’s something I’m going to think about.”

Here's Ballard:

Ballard’s had his share of injuries during his career – spanning 604 games with the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks before joining the Wild. He hasn’t played a full seasons since 2010, and these last two concussions clearly have him thinking about next steps, which is usually an indication that his playing days are done.

If they are … well, we’ll miss one of the League’s best hip-checkers. We’ll of course remember him accidentally slicing Tomas Vokoun’s ear in a fit of rage, and his overall sad ballad of weird goalie incidents.

And, in the end, we’ll remember him as another young-ish NHL player whose career ended too soon in this injurious game. If, indeed, it’s the end.