I'm not crazy about the sixth year either, but let's face it, Backlund had the leverage and used it. Have you seen this year's crop of UFA centres? Stastny, Eller, Bozak, Plekanec are the cream of the crop according to The Hockey News. (I'll be gobsmacked if Tavares makes it to July 1 unsigned.)
With the number of teams that will be looking to sign a centre this summer, Jeff Shantz could make a comeback and somebody would be tempted to pay him.
If I think of this as $5.35m x 5 years for Backlund's services, and another $5.35m to take him off the market, I don't mind the deal.
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‘You see in Calgary, [Ryan] Huska is no joke. It’s good. He’s really set on a specific model defensively. If you can be reliable, you have the freedom to play offence.’
—Ethan Wyttenbach
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