For all the people who talk about trading savard and St. Louis. I say congratulation! 10 years later! Has anyone praised the flames for actually getting a 4th rounder for Dustin Boyd?
Backlund is getting tough love. The thing is that if Monahan is going to be on this team, then Backlund and Stajan are going to be started in the defensive zone the most part.
If the flames want a good return for Stajan, padding his stats will help.
So Backlund gets tough duty this year. He will be better for it. Still believe he is here for the long run.
And for those having issues with Hartley? He hates young guys? But monahan has been promised 16min? And hey why is TJ Brodie playing top minutes?
At the end of the season this team will be close to the bottom of the standings. We all expected that(despite hoping for better). Hartley will be judged on the performance and development of monahan and Brodie, as well as Backlund, colborne, Bouma, butler and which ever players are called up from the AHL.
It looks like madness, but, as much as I didn't like the hire, I think he knows what he is doing. He has this team playing a system, and playing hard. Nobody has said that for 3yrs.
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