Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdonkey
I have to scratch my head when people refer to Lindholm as a top 6 forward. He’s in that Backlund/Frolik zone of being a mediocre 2nd line/elite 3rd line player.
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First of all, this is a woefully incomplete analysis. Backlund and Frolik are not the same calibre of player, not by a longshot.
Backlund is FIRMLY a second-line player if not better. This is a guy who was considered for the
Selke last season and who can easily score 45-50 points in the NHL.
Frolik is as you describe him, a middle-six winger. I contend that last year was likely the worst we'll see from him due to injury and general roster turmoil and that he should return to his typical 35-45 points this season.
Lindholm, on the other hand, is neither of these things. Backlund is 29 while Frolik is one year older, 30. Meanwhile, Elias Lindholm is 23 and despite that came within one point of surpassing Backlund's point totals last season. This is a player who is still developing and who has untapped potential, who the Flames can feel good about putting with Monahan and Gaudreau. I wouldn't call him a middle-six player at all because odds are, in two or three years, he won't be.