Quote:
Originally Posted by flambers
At this stage in his career, I don't believe Backlund can drive a 2nd line in terms of an offensive contribution
I would think he is more a shutdown 3rd line center.
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I don't buy that at all. Backlund's production might be more streaky than it's ever been, but his ES production is still strong and solid for a second liner. His last three years:
2019-20
Production: 31 pts in 70 games (44th among Cs, 99th in the NHL)
Primary ES Linemates: Tkachuk (36th), Mangiapane (105th)
2020-21
Production: 24 pts in 54 games (45th among Cs, 105th in the NHL)
Primary ES Linemates: Mangiapane (87th), Lucic (134th), Nordstrom (373rd)
2021-22
Production: 32 pts in 82 games (72th among Cs, 150th in the NHL)
Primary ES Linemates: Coleman (163rd), Mangiapane (83rd)
Backlund's relative ES production may have dipped substantially this past season, but a lot of the players that he was matched up against had career years and bounce-back seasons. He was regularly matched up against Rantanen, MacKinnon, McDavid, Draisaitl, Zegras, Pettersson, Tarasenko, Pacioretty, Kopitar, Keller, Huberdeau, Matthews, Marner, Zibanejad, etc.
Give him another solid offensive forward to play with (no offense to Coleman), and the Flames will have a good second line.