When it comes to Backlund, I am sure that Treliving will approach this with a certain price-point in mind, for a certain number of years.
However, it seems like a lot of posters here aren't buying how important Backlund is to this team, and a few pages back someone posted that since this team hasn't been very good for 'x' amount of years, that we should move on from Backlund as change will help.
I can't possibly disagree more.
Yes, this team needs to improve, moves need to be made, etc. However, is Backlund someone you win with, or lose with? Does he make this team better, or worse? Is he part of the solution, or part of the problem?
It is all relative to the cap hit. However, that cap hit has to go north quite a bit before I see him becoming a problem. As others have mentioned, he gets absolutely killed on defensive zone starts and quality of competition, yet he seems to out-score the opposition given those circumstances. That's not just good. That's downright amazing.
What isn't much of a leap to appreciate is also that this allows Monahan's line and Jankowski's line to get more opportunities. Gulutzan can give those two lines way more offensive zone starts and easier match-ups to help drive the offence.
You lose Backlund, and suddenly both those lines have to start playing in their own end a lot more. That WILL result in a decline in their offensive stats.
I would be fine with the Flames paying Backlund more money not just because Backlund is a really good defensive player and puts up ~50pts. Backlund gets some of the league's toughest zone starts and match-ups and out-performs anyone he is up against, while making his wingers BETTER at the same time, while allowing the other lines to get way easier minutes and opportunities to create offence.
That's what makes Backlund so valuable. He literally does make everyone on the team better. Hrvik is a career AHL'er thus far - he can't take those minutes. I love Jankowski, but he is definitely not ready for those minutes and assignments. There is literally nobody organizationally that can handle those minutes and assignments. Everyone will have to pull up their pants more and fill-in if Backlund isn't re-signed, and you can bet everyone will take a hit on their own offensive numbers.
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