[Poe969]

Now all that about Backlund is true...especially if we don't get anyone back. Right now he shelters guys and takes on big minutes but depending on who the Flames got in return, who's to say that player couldn't do the same thing. It seems like some are saying that he does all this and if he's traded, no one will do that. There are players who could step up with him gone and there's also the returning player in the trade.

I think the lines have been blurred here. I'm not saying trade Backlund for picks right now. I'm not saying trade him for the sake of trading him. I'm saying that you have to be open to trading him. If Nichuskin is available, you do what it takes to get him and if that includes Backlund then so be it. If the pens wanted Backlund for Murray, I don't know if I'd do that because Backlund is a proven NHL player and Murray really isn't and we have Gillies. What I'm saying is that our core guys are Monahan, Bennett, Gaudrea, Brodie and Hamilton and it would take a kings ransom to trade those guys but everyone else I'd be very open to trading. I don't think you build your team around a guy like Backlund, I think he's one of the building blocks used to build around the aforementioned guys and building blocks have to be interchangeable so you can improve your team.

I guess I see the team as core guys and building blocks and you can really only have 5-6 core guys. That's how it seems championship teams are built.