Quote:
Originally Posted by devo22
Abdelkader has 139 points (65 goals) in 413 NHL games
Backlund has 134 points (53 goals) in 314 NHL games
Almost the same production, but a difference of 99 NHL games. Abdelkader has seen his production go up because he's had an opportunity to play top minutes (his most frequent linemates this season are Zetterberg, Larkin and Nyquist). And let's be honest here, Backlund would easily be a 0.5 ppg player like Abdelkader is right now if he could play on a line with those players ...
Just like Backlund, Abdelkader is a fringe 2nd line forward, but a pretty decent 3rd line forward. Usually those don't earn north of 4m over 7 years with a full NTC though.
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Blashill and Babcock disagree that Adbelkader is a fringe 2nd line forward. They are giving him the 3rd most TOI after Zetterberg and Datsyuk fo all of last year and continuing on for this year.
Last year Backlund was not considered by Hartley to be a fringe 2nd liner. He had the 3rd most TOI after Monahan and Hudler and just a bit more than Johnny G and Glencross This year Backlund is playing like a fringe 2nd liner. b