Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
First off, Backlund: Yes, change is needed, but IMO you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Still the best centre (forward!) in terms of 2-way play. There is no single forward right now that helps this team win more than they lose.
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Just saying... this is a statement muddled by observation bias and a lack of recognition of Backlund's age-based regression. This season, looking at Evolving-Hockey's metrics, Backlund has the sixth-worst expected goals above replacement mark on the team. He has been the fifth-worst offensive play-driver on the team.
In terms of xGAR, only Kylington, Ritchie, Nesterov, Bennett, and Andersson have been more deleterious to the Flames' overall game.
When Backlund stops scoring (and outperforming his underlyings), that contract is probably going to look really bad.