In response to his play since returning from injury and Steinberg's article today:
http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home, where do you see Backlund fitting into our future?
Personally I hope we extend him. He's our best possession player, great two-way forward, and makes his linemates better. I know we are "deep" at centre but he's a guy I can see playing top-line minutes while Monahan/Bennett progress, then being a great two-way guy who can defend and chip in offense. And like Steinberg notes, he's only 25 and has been getting better, especially these past two seasons.
Salient points:
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His worth to the team goes beyond just the points though. Over the last four seasons, his first four as a full time NHLer, Backlund has consistently been one of Calgary’s best possession-driving forwards. His Corsi rate has put him in the top three among Flames forwards in each of those four seasons, and he’s lead the team in that category the last two seasons. Plain and simple, Backlund spends has spent more time in the offensive zone than anyone has over the last four years.
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Right off the hop, it’s likely to take some time for Bennett to be ready to play top end minutes down the middle. Monahan wasn’t ready in year one, and he’s still learning how to do it in his sophomore season. Backlund can do it, and do it well. With him there, the Flames have fare more leeway to insulate their young centres, specifically Bennett, as he develops early in his career. That’s a good thing.
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Yes, that poses questions about how other guys like Granlund and Jooris, among others, would be used going forward. They’re fair questions, but they aren’t ones that need answering in the immediate future. The question about Backlund does need to be addressed in the next number of months. It’s pretty clear from this vantage point that keeping him around long term would be nothing but beneficial for the Flames.
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Where do you see Backlund? Why? If you think he should stay, what kind of contract do you hope for/think he'd be looking for?