Quote:
Originally Posted by Fan in Exile
To those saying Backlund has done little to show he deserves to play on a line with skilled players, how have Colbourne and Stajan show they deserve to be centring the first or second line? The only centre with more points than Backlund is Monahan. Stajan despite getting loads of icetime on the first line including powerplay time has five points in ten games.
Colbourne has four points in 17 games. Backlund has 6 points in 17 games. Sure Backlund has higher average ice time than Colbourne but the difference can be accounted for in PK time.
I get that Backlund can be better and hope he "responds" but this is kind of like the situation Stajan was in with Sutter. If you don't put Backlund in a situation where he can succeed, then he won't. Even last season Hartley was very reluctant to increase Backlund's icetime or give him PP time. Hopefully Backlund explodes soon and leaves Hartley no other choice. He is more a number two centre than Backlund or Colbourne.
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I am guessing that we will see Backlund and Colborne being alternated in between skilled wingers until one of the two "makes it his". It is up to those two to make the most of the situation they are put in.