What can we expect from Backlund next year? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FBI · 06-27-2013, 06:21 AM

I think I am finally starting to get a little excited about this guy..
Definitely has the right attitude, loves the flames, sacrifices the body, even sticks up for the guys in fights if he has to..

Injury prone but I think most of them were fluke injuries and he seemed to have a little bit of a breakout season last year.. On pace for 20/20 last year for an 82 game season..

Can we expect 45 or 50 points from him next year?

Cheese · 06-27-2013, 06:25 AM

Hockey mostly. A few goals and some assists. If we assume he scores 1 goal and gets 2 assists anything greater will be wildly successful?

BurningSteel · 06-27-2013, 06:31 AM

uhm? multiple missed game injury.

Husky · 06-27-2013, 06:39 AM

I find it people are starting to finally notice him. When he wasn't scoring he was still doing all the small things; such as netrual zone take aways, transition game etc.

Im just hoping he uses his shot more. The guys shot is an absolute bomb.

Five-hole · 06-27-2013, 07:47 AM

More consistency. If he consistently plays like he can and avoids long slumps of unconfident play, he should have a good year. When he's playing well the puck seems to find him so points shouldn't be an issue ... they should fall into place.

That said, he'll be one of our few proven offensive guys next year, which is a bit scary for us and a lot of responsibility on him.

GGG · 06-27-2013, 08:07 AM

Healthy, if he stays healthy I think he can round out to be a second line center over the next 2 years. But if he keeps missing 20-30 games a season then I don't expect too much out of him.

A healthy Backlund I would like to see 20 goals, 30 assists out of. Very optimistic but his play during the lockout and before he go injured was very good last year.

Calgary4LIfe · 06-27-2013, 08:46 AM

Really depends on how healthy Backlund is able to stay next season, and who they bring in and who they ship out by the start of the season.

I would think that as it stands today, he would be the Flames 1st line center by default. With the Flames rebuilding, it would make more sense to give him the top line minutes over someone like Stajan who may not be in the Flames' long-term plans. Wasn't his QoC last season 3rd or so on the Flames' forwards, while having great CORSI numbers? I think he is ready for it.

Give him some 1st unit PP time, and you could see his offensive stats go up this year. I am really high on Backlund myself - I think he really fits the definition of what Calgary wants moving forward - he doesn't give up on the puck any longer, he has great hockey sense (which is why his CORSI is go good) and he is fast and relatively dynamic. Definitely not a superstar or anything, but a good, reliable 2-way center (but hopefully ends up being the 3rd line center since the Flames will be drafting superstars from now on :P).

As Husky pointed out above, he does have an absolute bomb of a shot (was 3rd in the Flames' skills competition after Kotalik and Babchuk with a 99mph slapper).

PlayfulGenius · 06-27-2013, 09:36 AM

I'm expecting a 40 point season... Hoping for 50!!

keenan87 · 06-27-2013, 09:38 AM

I am hoping for a 50 point season playing and establishing himself as a really good second line player (with potential for more).

20 G 30A 50 P
Playing on the PP and PK

By the end of the season, I hope he is wearing an "A"

bubbsy · 06-27-2013, 09:39 AM

if he can stay healthy, i think he will show that he can be a 2nd line center.

Cali Panthers Fan · 06-27-2013, 09:42 AM

I think Backlund tops out as a #2/1B center. That will pretty much be his role this year, so let's see what he does with it. I wouldn't be surprised to see a breakout campaign of 50-60 points for him, with lots of assists to Baertschi who I am already plugging in for 20 goals next year.

His two-way game is one of the reasons he's such a big piece moving forward. It's one thing to be good offensively, but being able to be good offensively and defensively, sometimes in the same shift, is what makes championship teams.

Canada 02 · 06-27-2013, 09:47 AM

hope he stay healthy; play consistent and becomes a solid, dependable 2nd line center

Flames_F.T.W · 06-27-2013, 10:33 AM

If he can stay healthy I think he'll play a big role on the team next season. I'd wager 40-50 points is not out of reach, barring any injuries. With PP time and some chemistry with another talented player (ie: Sven) maybe more than 40-50pts

cam_wmh · 06-27-2013, 10:41 AM

35 pts, misses 20 games.

blankall · 06-27-2013, 10:42 AM

I thought he looked pretty solid last year. I think he will continue to impress. Will become a 55-65 point guy this year, with a bigger opportunity.

Enoch Root · 06-27-2013, 10:59 AM

This season will tell us a lot about his future potential, I believe.

He has been knocking on the door for a while - time to see if he can take the next step.

I still believe he can be a good #2 C, but he has to move forward this year.

Also, if he misses more than 10 games again, that will be hard to ignore

ComixZone · 06-27-2013, 11:03 AM

I expect Backlund to be part of a package deal at the draft.

Enoch Root · 06-27-2013, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I expect Backlund to be part of a package deal at the draft.

That would not surprise me, but I think he'll be here for another year.

I think the future plans are...

Top 6: #6 pick and Jankowski

Bottom 6: Reinhart, Knight, Arnold, DeBlouw

I like Backlund, but I don't think he is in the Flames' plns

blankall · 06-27-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That would not surprise me, but I think he'll be here for another year.

I think the future plans are...

Top 6: #6 pick and Jankowski

Bottom 6: Reinhart, Knight, Arnold, DeBlouw

I like Backlund, but I don't think he is in the Flames' plns

You can't plan out your centres like that. The odds of any given prospect meeting their ceiling are relatively low. The oods of all of our prospects doing it are almost non-existent.

The Flames are going to take a wait and see approach with Backlund. He'll be given every opportunity to secure a top 6 role. Luckily for him, the competition is a couple years away.

Enoch Root · 06-27-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankall

You can't plan out your centres like that. The odds of any given prospect meeting their ceiling are relatively low. The oods of all of our prospects doing it are almost non-existent.

The Flames are going to take a wait and see approach with Backlund. He'll be given every opportunity to secure a top 6 role. Luckily for him, the competition is a couple years away.

You definitely have to wait and see, and of course you never know.

However, you also have to plan for the future and pencilling in names for the future is part o the process of planning.

Doesn't mean things aren't constantly re-evaluated, but it still happens.