Quote:
Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14
If we have enough center depth to push Backlund to the 4th line then he absolutely should be playing there. Why wouldn’t you play him on the 4th line?
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Because we don't have the depth. All the centers above Backlund are much worse at playing center.
He is, and I state this emphatically, the ONLY reason the Flames are even sniffing the playoffs, outside of Wolf.
Not a single other one of the centers on the team hold even a candle to his defensive and puck possession game against the hardest level of competition they face with the worst/hardest zone starts. Every other center (and forward) are having their success this year because Backlund, and his line, does a significant portion of the heavy lifting on this team so that they can be given the high ground for success.