Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Can Ryan take on Backlund’s role; is Backlund who we trade?

Calgary4LIfe · 09-01-2019, 05:10 PM

I am not sure if this has been mentioned already, but removing Backlund from the team would force Peters to play Monahan and the third line in tougher match-ups. Although Monahan's defensive ability is underrated in my own opinion, the top line's stats would take a bit of a hit simply having to start more often in the defensive zone and against better quality of competition. How big of a hit? I have no idea, but their offensive numbers would suffer at least somewhat.

Backlund not only takes the tough match-ups and usually not only stops the opposing team's best lines, but out-scores them while he is at it. It allows for Peters to better match-up lines and better put them in a easier position to succeed. The third line wouldn't be as sheltered as they have been either.

Trading Backlund away adds a tonne of tougher minutes to the rest of the team and removes a lot of flexibility when it comes to line-matching. I love Lindholm, and I definitely see and can even agree with the argument that he should be centring the 2nd line, but it should be with Backlund on the third and having those tough minutes as well.

If Lindholm (or even Bennett - I find myself agreeing with a few posters that would like to see Bennett as a centre for a stretch NOT under Gulutzan to see how he does, and without a Brouwer or a Neal stapled to him) can become a legitimately good 2nd line centre and help to create another scoring line, while having Backlund at the 3rd line spot and Ryan on the 4th line, then this team suddenly becomes that much harder to defend and match-up against. That's an elite centre depth if Lindholm can put up 60+ points as a 2nd line centre, and Backlund gets 40-50pts off that third line while still shutting down top lines.

I don't want to remove a centre off this team. It is the single most difficult forward position to play. Nobody on this team can adequately replace what Backlund brings to this team. I think it will unquestionably weaken this team unnecessarily. I love Hamonic, but I would rather see him go for a draft pick as I feel he can more readily be adequately replaced than Backlund (though I would definitely hate to see him leave for just a pick - he would be easier to replace but the Flames would most assuredly still miss him on and off the ice).

I think Backlund is a critical component of Calgary's success - perhaps one of the 3 or 4 most important players relative to the success of this team.

09-01-2019, 05:10 PM	#107
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I am not sure if this has been mentioned already, but removing Backlund from the team would force Peters to play Monahan and the third line in tougher match-ups. Although Monahan's defensive ability is underrated in my own opinion, the top line's stats would take a bit of a hit simply having to start more often in the defensive zone and against better quality of competition. How big of a hit? I have no idea, but their offensive numbers would suffer at least somewhat. Backlund not only takes the tough match-ups and usually not only stops the opposing team's best lines, but out-scores them while he is at it. It allows for Peters to better match-up lines and better put them in a easier position to succeed. The third line wouldn't be as sheltered as they have been either. Trading Backlund away adds a tonne of tougher minutes to the rest of the team and removes a lot of flexibility when it comes to line-matching. I love Lindholm, and I definitely see and can even agree with the argument that he should be centring the 2nd line, but it should be with Backlund on the third and having those tough minutes as well. If Lindholm (or even Bennett - I find myself agreeing with a few posters that would like to see Bennett as a centre for a stretch NOT under Gulutzan to see how he does, and without a Brouwer or a Neal stapled to him) can become a legitimately good 2nd line centre and help to create another scoring line, while having Backlund at the 3rd line spot and Ryan on the 4th line, then this team suddenly becomes that much harder to defend and match-up against. That's an elite centre depth if Lindholm can put up 60+ points as a 2nd line centre, and Backlund gets 40-50pts off that third line while still shutting down top lines. I don't want to remove a centre off this team. It is the single most difficult forward position to play. Nobody on this team can adequately replace what Backlund brings to this team. I think it will unquestionably weaken this team unnecessarily. I love Hamonic, but I would rather see him go for a draft pick as I feel he can more readily be adequately replaced than Backlund (though I would definitely hate to see him leave for just a pick - he would be easier to replace but the Flames would most assuredly still miss him on and off the ice). I think Backlund is a critical component of Calgary's success - perhaps one of the 3 or 4 most important players relative to the success of this team.