Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [Signing] Flames sign James Neal (5 years, 5.75 AAV)

Calgary4LIfe · 07-19-2018, 06:08 PM

I can't speak for everyone here, but I will say this.

I also want to see Tkachuk moved to a different line with a different center so that his production will improve.

However, this is 100% on the fact that with Backlund as his center, Tkachuk will be starting against stiffer competition and starting in the defensive zone way more often - both of these things make it more difficult to create offence.

I would absolutely love to see Backlund being set loose with some offensive zone starts against easier competition. I think you would see a massive increase in his point production. On the Flames, there simply isn't another center who even comes close to being that good defensively.

I am a firm believer that Backlund can put up quite a lot more points if given the favorable circumstances. I think that Monahan's line gets to feast at times because Backlund is doing a lot of the heavy lifting and allowing them to be put into situations that are easier to succeed in. Not taking a single thing away from Monahan - I think his defensive game is greatly underrated, and his ability to create offence is massively under-appreciated (you know, with all the talk that he is merely a product of Gaudreau).

Backlund has made Bouma a tonne of cash. Backlund has made Colborne a tonne of cash. Tkachuk got eased into the NHL alongside a vet who showed him how to play both sides of the puck and who generated offence for him. Tkachuk is a really good player, but I do think that under the less than favorable circumstances that the entire line plays under, I would argue that Tkachuk's production has been better than expected in part thanks to Backlund.

07-19-2018, 06:08 PM	#712
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I can't speak for everyone here, but I will say this. I also want to see Tkachuk moved to a different line with a different center so that his production will improve. However, this is 100% on the fact that with Backlund as his center, Tkachuk will be starting against stiffer competition and starting in the defensive zone way more often - both of these things make it more difficult to create offence. I would absolutely love to see Backlund being set loose with some offensive zone starts against easier competition. I think you would see a massive increase in his point production. On the Flames, there simply isn't another center who even comes close to being that good defensively. I am a firm believer that Backlund can put up quite a lot more points if given the favorable circumstances. I think that Monahan's line gets to feast at times because Backlund is doing a lot of the heavy lifting and allowing them to be put into situations that are easier to succeed in. Not taking a single thing away from Monahan - I think his defensive game is greatly underrated, and his ability to create offence is massively under-appreciated (you know, with all the talk that he is merely a product of Gaudreau). Backlund has made Bouma a tonne of cash. Backlund has made Colborne a tonne of cash. Tkachuk got eased into the NHL alongside a vet who showed him how to play both sides of the puck and who generated offence for him. Tkachuk is a really good player, but I do think that under the less than favorable circumstances that the entire line plays under, I would argue that Tkachuk's production has been better than expected in part thanks to Backlund.