Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
Backlund also had a bunch of nice turnovers that led to good scoring chances, against.
I thought he looked awful and aside from a couple of games, has looked awful for most of the playoffs.
He's just too soft. Clearing attempts are too soft, passes are too soft, shot is too soft.
I know it goes against the popular narrative, but he just doesn't bring enough offense to make his defense worth it. Too inconsistent, too soft.
It's one of those things advanced statistics don't compensate for: the moment. The moment to put a team away, the moment to go up by a goal early, the moment to scramble a key draw. When I see backlund wiffing on 2-1s, not clearing the puck after an icing, turning the puck over on the half-wall etc, I just cringe.
Calgary is desperate for offense right now and Backlund just doesn't provide enough of it.
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I agree he had a couple turnovers that ended up in our net, no question. And I agree that he doesn't provide enough offence. But what I was saying was that he was our best forward, despite some poor moments. And when that happens, you will lose. I saw what you saw, and cringed as well, but I also saw him as the only guy actually directing traffic towards the Ducks net at even strength. Who would you say of the forwards did that better? Or played better overall? Some guys didn't have the glaring turnovers he did, but they also didn't do much of anything else. Gaudreau, for example, didn't cause any goals against from what I saw, but he was literally a non-factor. As was Monahan and Hudler. Bennett has some nice moments, he's great on the wall and on the forecheck, but he's still too raw to execute his plays consistently.
Again, by no means was he "good", but he was the best forward in my eyes.