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CsInMyBlood · 01-12-2016, 04:26 PM

I'll start out this post claiming myself to be a fan of Mikael Backlund. I'll make no bones about it.

I've read a lot of bashing on him of late, people claiming he should be traded, people claiming Granlund makes him expendable, people claiming he isn't good. I watch every game, I just don't get these sentiments. My eyes tell me he is playing hard, smart effective hockey. Skates miles every night. Relentless and battles hard for every puck. Never takes a shift off. So I decided to dig up some stats from this season to see what they tell me.

I'm going with cold hard stats. I know how people love to shoot down advanced stats, so i'll leave them alone for now. If one of our advanced stats loving guys wants to weigh into this thread, and tell us more about Backlund so be it.

Offensive stats:

At the half way point he has 5 goals, 13 assists, 18 pts, +1 in 41 games.

He has 6 points in his last 10 games. He has 9 points in his last 15 games.

That's good for 7th place overall on the Flames, 4th among the forwards in points.

Projects to a 36 point season.

He is 3rd among Flames forwards in shots for.

11th overall in PP total ice time. 12th overall in PP TOI/per game.

Tied for 4th overall on the Flames in power play points with Monahan, Hamilton, Brodie and Hudler with 5 points. The leaders are Gaudreau (9), Wideman (8), Gio (6).

Defensive stats:

4th on the team in +/-. One of only four Flames players with a positive rating. Brodie (+6), Gaudreau (+5), Frolik (+2), Backlund (+1).

Leads the Flames in takeaways with 26.

Leads the Flames forwards in shots blocked with 31.

55.9 face off winning % in the defensive zone.

By far our best penalty killer.

Backlund: SH total ice time: 58:24. 5 PPGA.(PP Goals Against) GA60 = 5.14 (GA60 = PP Goals scored against team while player is on the ice per 60 minutes of ice time)

Frolik: SH total ice: 48.50. 6 PPGA. GA60 = 7.37
Stajan: SH total ice: 61.54. 10 PPGA. GA60 = 9.69
Jooris: SH total ice: 33.50. 6 PPGA. GA60 = 10.64
Monahan: SH total ice: 34.07. 7 PPGA. GA60 = 12.31

As you can see Backlund is by far our best penalty killer. As far as the GA60 stat goes, Backlund is just ahead of Patrice Bergeron who sports a 5.29. Bergeron has won the Selke trophy for best defensive forward in the league 3 of the last 4 years which tells you just how valuable Backlund is on the PK to the Flames.

I think Backlund is very underrated by many Flames fans.

What do you think about Mr. Backlund?

01-12-2016, 04:26 PM	#1
CsInMyBlood Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: F* me. We're so fing good, you check the fing standings? Lets fing go! F**ing practice! Exp:	Lets Talk About Mr. Backlund I'll start out this post claiming myself to be a fan of Mikael Backlund. I'll make no bones about it. I've read a lot of bashing on him of late, people claiming he should be traded, people claiming Granlund makes him expendable, people claiming he isn't good. I watch every game, I just don't get these sentiments. My eyes tell me he is playing hard, smart effective hockey. Skates miles every night. Relentless and battles hard for every puck. Never takes a shift off. So I decided to dig up some stats from this season to see what they tell me. I'm going with cold hard stats. I know how people love to shoot down advanced stats, so i'll leave them alone for now. If one of our advanced stats loving guys wants to weigh into this thread, and tell us more about Backlund so be it. Offensive stats: At the half way point he has 5 goals, 13 assists, 18 pts, +1 in 41 games. He has 6 points in his last 10 games. He has 9 points in his last 15 games. That's good for 7th place overall on the Flames, 4th among the forwards in points. Projects to a 36 point season. He is 3rd among Flames forwards in shots for. 11th overall in PP total ice time. 12th overall in PP TOI/per game. Tied for 4th overall on the Flames in power play points with Monahan, Hamilton, Brodie and Hudler with 5 points. The leaders are Gaudreau (9), Wideman (8), Gio (6). Defensive stats: 4th on the team in +/-. One of only four Flames players with a positive rating. Brodie (+6), Gaudreau (+5), Frolik (+2), Backlund (+1). Leads the Flames in takeaways with 26. Leads the Flames forwards in shots blocked with 31. 55.9 face off winning % in the defensive zone. By far our best penalty killer. Backlund: SH total ice time: 58:24. 5 PPGA.(PP Goals Against) GA60 = 5.14 (GA60 = PP Goals scored against team while player is on the ice per 60 minutes of ice time) Frolik: SH total ice: 48.50. 6 PPGA. GA60 = 7.37 Stajan: SH total ice: 61.54. 10 PPGA. GA60 = 9.69 Jooris: SH total ice: 33.50. 6 PPGA. GA60 = 10.64 Monahan: SH total ice: 34.07. 7 PPGA. GA60 = 12.31 As you can see Backlund is by far our best penalty killer. As far as the GA60 stat goes, Backlund is just ahead of Patrice Bergeron who sports a 5.29. Bergeron has won the Selke trophy for best defensive forward in the league 3 of the last 4 years which tells you just how valuable Backlund is on the PK to the Flames. I think Backlund is very underrated by many Flames fans. What do you think about Mr. Backlund? __________________ Backlund for Selke 2017 2018 Oilers suck.