My theory of building a serious cup contender:
1) stack your team with elite talent. Guys who make other people around them better. Pay them if you have to.
2) have a bunch of ELC guys play way over their expectation
3) fill our the rest of your roster for whatever is lacking with whatever money is left, squeezing as much value as you can.
This is how most teams have won their cups. Elite guys are not only great, they turn 1M linemates into 3M players. Worth every penny. ELC contracts speak for themselves.
Backlund to me fits (3), but it's not particularly good value. at 'fmv' I find him very expendable. Compare his contract to any elite forward. Which cap usage is better: Phil Kessel (6.8) or Backlund (5.4) + 1.4M scrub? Stamkos (8.5) or Backlund + 3.1M scrub? The answer is the elite player *by a mile*. Alternatively, that cap space is better spent on bridge contracts for janko/bennett/whomever and hoping they outplay their contract. Then, any savings can be used to acquire another elite player.
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Gaudreau > Huberdeau AINEC
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