Quote:
Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL
Backlund has scored at an above 40 point pace 5 times in his career + a 50 point season.
Backlund has also scored at a 47-53 point pace over his last 3 seasons and that's despite the numbers showing he's been incredibly unlucky this season. It's fine if you don't think he's been unlucky but the numbers are proof.
Having one of the very best defensive players in the NHL on your team who can score 50+ points a season for only $5.35M a season is a steal.
Even if you only look at his point totals and rely on the eye test (although though's are always incredibly biased), he's still worth the payday. But in the analytics community, he's worth much more than what he got and it's simply a steal of a deal.
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But Backlund has never demonstrated that he can be a consistent 50 point player. At 29, there is a chance that his best offensive years are behind him.
But even if there is more offensive upside in his game, how many more years do you realistically think it's going to continue to be there?
I agree with everything else. Today and for the next couple of years this is a great deal.
My only contention, is that when he is 33 or 34 or 35, and putting up fewer than 50 points, probably much fewer, and playing in a third line depth role, how excited will we all be about his $5.35M/yr?
I just think that should be taken into account when evaluating the contract today. And I appreciate that some of you have done that and still love it! (I just don't love it as much).