No matter how you view Jankowski and where he could slot in today, or down the road, there is limited downside if you can sign Backlund (or any player) to a good value contract.
BUT
There are two questions I am asking myself:
Does it make sense Backlund's camp is asking around $5 million per? That just seems a trifle low for his bargaining position honestly so I am either skeptical OR
Is he asking for a very prohibitive no trade clause and could that be a sticking point? Because yeah, it might be a good value contract but if one day you find yourself playing him as a third line C you might wish you had that money to spend on a top line winger.
I suspect that may be where the sticking point lies. But the one out the Flames have have is that Janko is under control for a while yet, so worst case he might become a trade chip. You could have worse problems.
|