Backlund:
If your aim is to win, then you don't utilize Backlund as the 4th line C. You utilize him as the match-up defensive center against the league's best lines so that they can be neautralized as best as possible in order for the Flames to win.
If your aim is to develop players, you don't utilize Backlund as the 4th line C. You utilize him as the match-up defensive center against the league's best lines so that you can shelter a young center in the NHL through his development.
Either way, until Backlund's effectiveness regresses enough where he is no longer the best option defensively, he is basically playing 2nd line minutes. When those wheels fall off - and they will - then you look at demoting him down the lineup, or switching him to the wing. Or like the old joke with Lanny in his last season - maybe you switch him to defence for a few years, then when he really can't skate, you put him in net. However, in all seriousness, those wheels will eventually fall off.
I would still like to see the Zary at Center experiment continue - I think it was going well until he got injured. Now Frost has been brought in, and there doesn't seem to be a spot for Zary, which I do think is unfortunate. He does not supplant Backlund. Maybe he can supplant Frost, but then that's akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul, no? They both need ice-time.
This is basically a 'compete' vs 'development' conundrum to me. Sports in general is almost all based phrase: "What have you done for me lately?" Kadri and Backlund are both much better bets to help the Flames win games this season, while Zary is the much better bet to help the Flames win games 3 seasons from now. I don't think you will get much of an argument there. So the question arises: "Should the Flames prioritize winning or development?".
I, for one, am happy if this team makes the playoffs unexpectedly this year. I also don't expect a long run if they do. So while playoff experience is great for development, you also probably should prioritize development ahead of competing. So IF (and I don't know this) the Flames see Zary as a center, then they should be making room for Zary so he has the opportunity to develop into one.
I don't want to liken this to Bennett (and I certainly don't want to beat a dead horse, as the whole Bennett development argument is not even a dead horse, but a pile of bones now), but we certainly can take something from that experience and apply it forward. I remember Conroy stating that Bennett didn't get enough opportunity here, remember? That's always been my argument there - just not enough patience with him. Under Hartley, things were going really well, but that's during the 'development' period. When he was fired, and Gulutzan brought in, it switched to 'compete now', and there appeared to be little room for patience. We do not know what more patience + opportunity could have done for Bennett - maybe he would have developed into a #1C, or maybe things could have been much worse and he would have ended up as the prima donna that Zegras SEEMS to be. Nobody really knows for sure, but what I feel we do know is that the current GM of the Flames feels that Bennett should have had more opportunity. In hindsight, investing that asset worth into Bennett (a 4th overall pick's level of worth) should have come with further investments of patience and opportunity, but it didn't.
I would rather see the Flames invest a bit of patience and opportunity into Zary, and see what comes out of it. At least there won't be arguments or second guesses. Tough to say how to accomplish that without moving out a center, however. What I do know is that Zary is likely going to be a much more impactful forward in the NHL 5 years from now than either of Backlund or Kadri (which I assume neither will be in the NHL by that time).
it is a difficult decision, and it is evidenced by the differing opinions here.
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