Quote:
Originally Posted by Robo
How many more opportunities does he need I don't really care if he stays or goes since he's been up I really haven't seen much from him
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Over the first 8 games he was averaging just over 19-minutes per game, was on a 0.5 PPG pace, and was averaging almost 3 shots per game. He was a plus player despite shutting down some of the toughest players in the NHL.
Then Stajan came back, the coaches bias kicked in, Backlund had a couple of bad games in a depth role and he found himself on the fourth line.
The first time he was given an opportunity again he got 2-points.
He has been inconsistent. There is no doubting that. He has had a couple of stinker games. A couple of them recently. But he really hasn't been given consistent opportunity either and he is one of the players playing scared because he knows he is a mistake away from the fourth line.