[FanIn80]

Orrrr.... maybe the reason they're not protecting Backlund is because he's an over-30 third-line C with another 5 years @ $5m, and nobody has bitten on any attempts to get some kind of return for him? Maybe at this point, the idea of Seattle taking him is valuable in both the cap space and that a younger player isn't taken instead?

Edit: He's 32, with 3 more seasons at $5.3m and a modified no-trade clause.