Quote:
Originally Posted by Parallex
Not on a Stanley Cup favorite I agree. Backlund is however good enough to be your 3C on a Stanley Cup contender whereas Colborne isn't strong enough offensively to be in the top 6 nor strong enough defensively to play a strong support role.
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I dont think it is that cut and dried though.
Does Backlund score 25 points if given a 3rd line role on a cup contender?
He has been given solid Top 6 icetime for a couple of years now and cant produce any offence with it. With less icetime and potentially even worse linemates, does he look like the same player? I dont think so. He's not exactly sitting between two all-star linemates out there, but I can't imagine his 20-30 points per season would go up with a guy like Ryan Garbutt or Tanner Glass on his wing.
To me, Backlund looks like a less skilled but more conservative Stajan. I agree with another poster who said that if the two their positions reversed to start the year, it would be difficult to imagine Stajan would have less points than Backlund does.
I don't even feel like I have an irrational bias against the player. I don't get how he got the contract he is currently on unless the belief was "he's a younger matt Stajan, let's give him the Stajan contract." When I see him out there it is mostly just a big 'meh'.