Quote:
Originally Posted by Corral
i like Backlund. I'm not suggesting he isn't important to this team. And we need a defensive specialist centre who contributes offensively as well. He's a selke candidate for a reason.
BUT - he will be on the downside of his career when we are cup contenders - your stats are great for the past few seasons - but this signing decision must be based on an assessment of what he will be doing three years from now. And my view is he will be a solid 3C by then.
Paying someone for past performance is a constant error made by NHL teams.
|
Paying someone for present performance is not a mistake. Backlund is 28-years-old. If he signs a four- or five-year deal it will carry him to the wizened, old age of 33–34. There is no good reason to think that he will be anything worse than he is now in four years, and he is currently a very good second-line centre.
Why do you believe he is "on the downside of his career"? I will agree that he has likely peaked, but players like him will tend to maintain a high level of play into their mid-thirties.