I think we'll be pleasantly surprised with the contract term and AAV, particularly if my hunch of his camp working a NTC into his next deal proves correct.
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Backlund is going to be a selke finalist for the next 5 years as koivu ages out at a crucial position. He is a late bloomer who might even get better and at rue flame, with stajan and bouma off the books next year and no other major contracts up... Pay the man whatever it takes within reason.
Just using Stajan, Bouma and Backlund's expiring salaries at the end of next season is 8.91 million. Lots of room for a very earned raise. 5 years x 5ish million for a 50 point, defensively elite Center is very reasonable. Also give the man a permanent A.
As an aside, just looking at the cap situation for next year just reaffirms how well Treliving has assembled the team. The only guy who needs to be re-signed is Backlund. The only other UFA's are Stajan, Bouma and Bartkowski. All easily replaced internally and unless one of the kids has a huge season I can't see any of the RFA's getting a huge raise. But that would be a very welcome problem to have.
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stajan - 3.125.. ufa 2018
bouma - 2.2... ufa 2018
hoping tre can move both to reget some picks... even minimal 3s or 4s...but even not thats 5.325 open next summer..give backlund enough to get to 5/season and ur still sitting pretty with over 4 million to play with.. enough to hopefully extend a emerging bennett
Anything more than $4.5M is probably an over-payment. If Backlund wants to be here long term he's going to be a #3 center. $4.5M is the max you pay for that role.
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Anything more than $4.5M is probably an over-payment. If Backlund wants to be here long term he's going to be a #3 center. $4.5M is the max you pay for that role.
Seems as though you missed the part where he was a top five defensive centre in the league last year and arguably our MVP.
Even if we have Bennett or Jankowski take a step, Backs is at worst a 2B Centre. His ability to shut down other team's top players will be vital to the team moving forward.
Anything more than $4.5M is probably an over-payment. If Backlund wants to be here long term he's going to be a #3 center. $4.5M is the max you pay for that role.
Why would he have to be a number 3 Center? Am I missing something here? Bennett is a long way from being a good defensive number 2 Center. Heck, he's not even a good defensive third line winger.
Backlund is better defensively than Monahan and it isn't even close so don't see why we need to put him as the third line Center.
