Quote:
Originally Posted by shermanator
20 goals, 45 points. IMO, a perfect third line centre for the Flames going forward behind Monahan and Bennett.
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So, I know that looking forward Backlund slots as a #3 centre behind Monahan and Bennett on the Flames depth chart, but +20 goals and +40 points is ridiculously good production for a "third line" centre. If that's all he is on this team, then he is easily the best damn third-line centre in the NHL by a country mile. Backlund is the #22 highest scoring centre in the Western conference right now. Only LA, Dallas, Anaheim, Colorado, SJ have a higher scoring 1–2 than the Flames with Monahan-Backlund, and four of those five teams are entrenched in the playoffs.
Backlund is way better than a lot of people give him credit for. As great a player as he is, I think the Flames will fairly shortly run out of room for him, which is not a bad thing at all. Backlund could command a handsome return in the next two/three years.