[united]

Seems like Backlund elevates his game whenever facing Crosby...World Juniors and now a few years of line matching from coaches and mostly he smothers him. Watching two great thinkers of the game go to battle is awesome to watch from the stands where you can watch each of their movements away from the puck. What a player Backlund is. If only the Flames coaching staff saw the obvious five years and deployed him in the key shutdown role.

Credit to Tkachuk and Frolik, too. Obviously Backlund doesn't do it all himself. The chemistry the three of them have on the breakout - perfect timing bumping the puck to Backlund in the middle - and through the neutral zone is incredible. Plus their ability to read off each other on the forecheck. The line is a clinic on the defensive and transition roles of the forward positions.

Brett Kulak is going to be a good #5 defenceman for years to come. He's starting to settle into the league and get comfortable. No reason to see Bartkowski in the lineup aside from an injury.

Kris Versteeg is really struggling this season. Hopefully he can find his way out of the slump, but early returns aren't good. At $9,375,000 is there a worse bang-for-buck line in the league? Yikes.

Mike Smith has been in God mode. I usually reserve judgement on goalies until they've played 1,500 minutes, but, at halfway there, he's been nothing short of incredible. Absolute steal of a trade if he maintains or reverts a little.

Why was Curtis Lazar worth a second-round pick? Puzzling at the time and stranger as the season goes on. Likewise with Stone getting $3.5 x 3.