I like Backlund but this contract now puts him in territory where a 40 point season isn't really good enough anymore especially when his defensive play has slipped and he's not great at face-offs. He's a useful player for sure and will not likely be a boat anchor like Brouwer for instance but at the same time he's now tetering on the wrong side of value when you consider pay for play. IMO all this contract does is buy more of the same for the Flames and as an armchair GM that's not good enough because the goal is to be more than a bubble team. If I was Treliving I would be trying to pry ROR from Buffalo and dangling Brodie and whatever else it would take and then move Backlund for draft picks/top prospect. Easier said than done but this team really needs to be upgraded up front and Backlund as a 2nd line center clearly isn't good enough for this team to elevate from bubble team to contender.
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