Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814
Gaudreau-Backlund-Mangiapane
I don’t know why Backlund has never received the chance to play with Johnny for any extended period of time.
He’s the best centre at carrying the puck on the roster.
He’s the best defensive forward on the team.
His shot is heavier than it looks.
Everyone, literally everyone, is better with him.
Colborne got paid off the back of his one Backlund season.
Sam Bennett nearly scored 20 goals, and has barely looked like
an NHL player since.
Tkachuk misses him like Hannibal misses Will Graham.
I’m starting to get the feeing that “Backlund isn’t a first line centre” is based entirely on him not being able to centre Iggy when he was 21.
Maybe time to change that thinking up.
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The reason I'm uninterested in Backlund centering Johnny is that Backlund can't get quick shots off (as Monahan can). Backlund has a pretty hard wrister, but only gets it off in circumstances where he has time to position himself. We've seen Backlund surprise a few goalies either on the rush or just popping one in from the high slot, but both are possession-oriented rather than chance oriented. And I think Johnny makes chance-oriented passes, and Backlund just isn't that kind of finisher.
So to my eye, that's a really strange pairing. Should it be tried? Sure, why not. But the idea that it's obviously there for the taking... boy I dunno. I just don't see Backlund as that kind of player, and I think it would kill Johnny's offense and hurt Backlund's defense.