Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
Welcome to the business side of the NHL. Simple as that. Big picture is that Tkachuk and Janko and maybe Bennett are going to get big raises. Center is a position of strength vs weak wings. If Moving Backlund grants the team itself better overall forward balance, Im afraid to say you gotta do it.
If we think with our heads instead of our hearts, there's an equal chance they move Backlund as there is of re-signing him.
I get it, Backlund should be a Flame for life, I truly believe that, but I don't see the long term advantage of keeping him over moving him to make the overall team better.
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Disagree with the bold. Current depth:
Monahan
Backlund
Jankowski
Stajan
Lazar
Hrivik
with Bennett a possibility, but he appears to be on a different path
You take Backlund out of there, with Stajan done after this season, and you have:
Monahan
Jankowski
Lazar
Hrivik
(unless you move Bennett back)
That is REALLY weak, IMO. We finally have some centre depth, and people want to get rid of Backlund.
For me, Monahan, Backlund, Jankowski is a group you can build on.
Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Bennett, Mangiapane, Dube is a solid group on LW
Ferland, Frolik, Hathaway (after this season) isn't good enough on RW. Get this team a top line RW, and we have the depth to compete. And yes, we can afford Backlund AND an RW, we just need to make sure we don't overpay BAcklund (I do not think he will get $6M).