One of the absolute worst ideas was thinking that this team needed to move Backlund to the wing. If I was Treliving at the time, I would constitute that as a fireable offence. Backlund was one (and still is) of the league's best defensive centres. Those don't grow on trees.
No idea how long Backlund ends up playing for, but he is aging really well. Let's just assume he re-signs again on the Flames after his current deal is up. With his dedication to fitness and how his footspeed (thus far) has remained really good, I would say he would probably still make for an effective 4th line centre that you don't have to worry about getting caught out there against good players. Someone you can use like Sutter used Yelle in the '04 series - taking important draws and be defensively sound with limited minutes. It will be interesting to see how Backlund's career winds down, but so far, he isn't showing any hint of it.
He is a very, very good defensive centre that plays hard minutes. I wouldn't transition him away from the middle of the ice in order to transition someone else in. I would rather just move him down the lineup. That 3rd line centre spot is wide open between Huberdeau and Mantha. I wouldn't move Backlund to the wing to give Zary some reps there - I would just move Zary to that line and keep him there for a month to see what happens - if he starts trending up or remains flat as a C.
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