Quote:
Originally Posted by sa226
I can't see any good reason to trade Backlund, just for the sake of trading him. He may be running out of time to show that he is a reliable top 6 guy, but I still think he has upside.
Why trade a young decent centre for a pick or average prospect?
The only thing that I can see happening is that they would like to add depth on defense, where the organization is a little thin. If they can find a willing trade partner that has the Dman version of Backlund, then a trade would make sense. We have guys in Abbottsford that can play the role Backlund is playing right now.
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The problem is if management does not see him as a 3rd line center there is no reason to keep him. They will continue to give Colbourne and maybe eventually Knight 3rd line minutes, while keeping Backlund on the 4th line. He has been given his chances ( chances that other players in the AHL would kill for) to be the 2nd line center and does not seem to be able to be that player.
Keeping him for the sake of keeping him, is probably worse than trading him for the sake of trading him. I think there is a better chance that his stock goes further down if they go another year with Backlund.