Quote:
Originally Posted by Diane Phagoof
And only 2 of them are good.
Jankowski has not looked good.
Ryan has not looked good.
The only person on the second line that's producing is Tkachuk, that needs to change.
I think Backlund is/does his best work on the thirdline as an elite shutdown guy who chips in 20/20...
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I personally prefer Backlund as an elite shutdown pivot who also generates a tonne of offensive zone time and chances. He is presently on pace for a career high in points, and is comfortably among the top-50 scoring centres in the League (bear in mind that this list includes players who are positionally slotted as centres while seldom lining up in this position).
Backlund is not nearly as good a player as Patrice Bergeron, but he is the same type of player in that he can and will eat the opposing team's best players alive on the ice, while simultaneously helping to drive offensive production. Mikael Backlund is a rare breed: a second line scoring centre who dominates defensively.
All that to say that I think the Flames are fine down the middle.