Quote:
Originally Posted by AC
Well sure, Backlund's best offensive year was 2016-2017 when he had 53 points in 81 games. That was Tkachuk's rookie year. He's since had a 45 point season, and most recently a 47 point season.
Backlund also had 47 points in 82 games the year before, playing mostly with Bennett/Frolik or Colborne/Frolik.
Tkachuk is great, but comparing Backlund's last season without Tkachuk to those with him his point production changed by +6, -2, and 0. Not as much of a difference as I expected.
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That's definitely one way to look at it.
Another is that his career high season came in Tkachuk's first in the league where Backlund scored 16 of his 53 points on the power play, whereas last year he scored 2 of his 47 points on the powerplay.
Last year was Backlund's highest points per game average over the last 5 seasons.
The season before last Backlund scored 11 of his 47 points on the PP, even though he was shooting a paltry 6.5%.
If Backlund finishes 2017-2018 with the same shooting percentage at this season, his second lowest in 4 years, then it's 3 straight seasons of career highs for Backlund with Tkachuk on his wing.
Another way to look at it is with Tkachuk on his wing Backlund is a .6+ point per game player for the only time in his career.
Last season was the most even strength minutes per game backlund played in the last 5 seasons. With Tkachuk on his wing, Backlund has turned into a 40+ even strength point producer in the league.
To put it in perspective, only 10 flames players have produced more at even strength in the last 5 years than Backlund did last. They are all basically the top line and giordano.
Backlund scored as much at even strength last year as Gaudreau did in 2014-2015.
Backlund has scored 30 even strength points in his career just one time without Tkachuk on his wing.
His 3 highest assists per game seasons come with Tkachuk on his wing.