Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashasx
He has been defensively strong for 5+ seasons now. He has rounded out his offensive game over the last 3.
Has he been a strong second liner for the last five? No, but he has unquestionably been for the last three, and there's really no indication that he's going to fall back anywhere significantly.
I'm not saying to go out and sign Backlund to a 6x6 deal. He's not going to get that, especially considering the contracts of other players on this team. But a 4-5 year deal for fair money? Why wouldn't you do that, considering nobody in this organization can do what he does?
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I guess it depends on what you consider a second liner, I think last year he played like a second liner, and as pointed out I think it was because of Tkachuck. Being defensively strong is a great attribute...for a third liner and I think that's what he is.
His next contract will determine everything, in 2-3 years I see Janko as being better than him offensively which would push Backs to the third line, or if the Flames somehow grab another top 2 guy it pushes Backs down too. Just because right now he's the second best center on the team doesn't mean he should be the second best center on the team. Most of us had higher hopes for Bennett to be a second line guy and Janko to come in as a third line guy but that doesn't seem to be happening so now the center depth isn't as good as we once thought. All of this makes Backlund seem that much better but in the big picture I would hope the team has better options than a defensively responsible 40 point player who's getting older (by hockey standards)