[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Some thoughts:

- Well now we've paid Brouwer right or wrong, and we can only have so many "UFA" deals on the team. Maybe moving Brouwer to make room for Backlund is the way to go.
- Let's say Brouwer contract was a mistake, are you advocating that we should make the same mistake again, simply because we've made it before?
- Finally, you can't look at these things in a bubble. Theoretically (and I say that so as to not get everyone up in arms about Bennett's play this year), the Flames have their two ponies at center. Truth of the matter is, they can't afford to be paying 3 players top dollar at center in 4 years when this team is likely going to be at it's best. They will need to have the dollars to round out the line up, on wing, in net, on D.

So if the Flames have come to the conclusion already that Bennett isn't going to be the center they wanted, and he's either going to be a winger, or not a part of this team, then I agree, contemplating whether Backlund is good enough, and going to be playing well enough given his age when this team is going to peak is something they should very much be considering when deciding on whether in a year from now they'd like him to be on the team and eating up a healthy chunk of our cash.

But as you can see, it's going to be pretty complicated decision, that involves some future projecting when it comes to making the right decision on Backlund.

Advocating the Flames to make the same mistake? Brouwer at his best hasn't been as good as Backlund since he was 23. I get what you're saying... Brouwer has been paid, it's done, options are limited. But Backlund has been the Flames best centre for a while now. He's the only centre on the team that has an understanding of the defensive aspect of the game. He gives Monahan and Bennett easier minutes. Backlund's impact goes beyond his own play on the ice. As bad as things have been this season, you remove Backlund and this team completely falls apart.