Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashasx
The team hasn't been a playoff team with Backlund. But is that the fault of Backlund, or Monahan, Gaudreau, Giordano, etc., not pulling their weight this season?
Almost every player on this team has trended down this season. Is it correct to single out one of the few that have been good (great) and say "well, we haven't been a consistent playoff contender with them on the team, so why keep them?"
That logic is just incorrect.
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Singling out Backlund as the reason wasn't my point at all. My point was, does it matter if we get worse then we are now, given we aren't a playoff team.
I'm not suggesting that the Flames could be considering trading Backlund because he's the reason we are struggling, quite the opposite. Way to many people look at trades as something that only happens to players "responsible" for poor performance.
The biggest risk to trading Backlund is what you have correctly identified, it likely makes us worse (assuming a return of future potential) this year and next. My point is, does it matter if we are worse this year, if we aren't a playoff team (which is still TBD, totally correct Toonage)? Trading Backlund would be about "trying" to be better 3 years from now, and not potentially letting a valuable asset walk away for nothing or for limited value if the long term plans (cap wise or other) don't allow him to be a part of this team beyond his current contract.