QOTD: Are the Flames Underutilizing Backlund? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 03-21-2015, 08:54 AM

The timing of this is somewhat suspect with the top line dicing the Flyers on Thursday night ...

But are the Flames underutilizing Mikael Backlund by stacking a top line and having him work with serviceable, rugged up and down wingers that don't do a whole lot with the puck?

The Bouma story has been great, but I think we can all agree he's more of a third liner at heart.

Should the Flames balance out Hudler and Gaudreau so they have two lines going, and teams (Blues, Avalanche) can't focus on the young guys on one line and shut them down?

What about next year with Bennett on the squad, do they play him at center or mix it up with plugging in on LW on the top two lines so they can build a top six.

If Bennett's NHLe is accurate at 54 points the Flames will have 5 roughly 60 point forwards at their disposal next year suggesting depth.

Cali Panthers Fan · 03-21-2015, 08:58 AM

Next year is next year. This year Bouma and Jones have been the most reliable secondary wingers, both offensively and defensively. Without Glencross we don't have a bonafide regular scoring threat on the wing. Backlund isn't the most offensively gifted player either, so I don't think you need pure skill players around him to be productive. Besides which, he just finished an 8 game point streak, so whatever his line mates have been doing, it's been effective.

transplant99 · 03-21-2015, 08:59 AM

As the old adage goes...if it aint broke, don't fix it.

Leave that 1st line alone...way too much chemistry to be messing with at this point...as they go, so will the season.

Gaskal · 03-21-2015, 09:04 AM

Bouma can stay put. But I like Colborne over David Jones on that line. Backs seems to have good chemistry with Colby.

GranteedEV · 03-21-2015, 09:05 AM

I wouldn't mind Backs on the left or even right wing of the second line next season. End of the day he'd be wasted at under 20 minutes a night as he's just too good. We'll have seven capable #3 centers (Stajan Jooris Colborne Granlund Shore Arnold Jankowski) so while having Backlund as a #3 feels very "Kings" ey I don't think it's the best for the team. He's a Top 6 Forward.

Right now? I do think one of Jones and Bouma needs a line swap but not both. Just give Backlund an outlet. I'd like Bouma-Backlund-Jooris, Granlund-Backlund-Jones, Bouma-Backlund-Shore, or Colborne-Backlund-Jones.

What's really hurting right now is that second PP unit.

Bingo · 03-21-2015, 09:13 AM

Silly to worry about the playoffs before they actually get in, but we've seen a night and day difference between good and bad teams and how that top line performs.

The Leafs and Flyers have porous defense, and they lit them up. The Ducks had an odd night with their rebuilt defense, and has me thinking they could be a great a upset candidate for the first round.

The Blues are an iron curtain and they were complete non factors.

Down the stretch the Flames have some easy marks or at least non playoff teams that should have some holes, but if they get into those final two games (Kings/Jets) or a playoff series (hopefully) I think the size and youth on that line means the Flames will be in tough to score goals.

Break them up and they're not as easy of a mark.

indes · 03-21-2015, 09:25 AM

I was also thinking of Bennett being on backlunds wing next year to ease him to the center position. Would make for quite the double threat with those two driving possession!

kyuss275 · 03-21-2015, 09:25 AM

Voted you can't break up top line. Unfortunately for Backlund after first line flames have an abundance of 3rd line wingers. My guess is that if Backlund stays long term with flames he will be playing with mostly 3rd line wingers. Flames have some nice wing prospects in the system , but by the time they are ready for full time top 6 minutes , so will Bennett .

Erick Estrada · 03-21-2015, 09:30 AM

IMO 3rd line is Backlund's ultimate ceiling so I'm with leaving things as is as he's doing a great job at his role. Ideally he would play with skilled/smart guys like Granlund on the 3rd line but I would say Bouma isn't exactly chopped liver as he gets the odd goal here and there.

DataDoxy · 03-21-2015, 09:31 AM

OMG! I thought we had something here.... but after that post I am not really sure who you are any more. Bring a pillow down to the couch tonight baby, 'cuz that's where you'll be sleeping!

GranteedEV · 03-21-2015, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

IMO 3rd line is Backlund's ultimate ceiling so I'm with leaving things as is as he's doing a great job at his role.

Huh?

He's already a 2nd line center who's had success on a first line last season... So how is 3rd line his cieling?

TheChief · 03-21-2015, 09:35 AM

Slightly off topic but is Backlund signed for next year? If not he is do for a massive pay raise.

I'm starting to fear that our cap room is going to dissolve rather quick... Gio is up after next year, Brodie's money kicks in next year, Monahan is RFA after next year, same with Gaudreau. Bouma is probably due for a pay raise, if we keep Russell he will be due for a raise...

I think Backlund will be the perfect 3 C when this team is competing for a cup, in how many years will that be though, and as we can see, you can't have 3rd line centre making 4 + million... The cups chicago for example won they had lots of their main dudes still on cheap money.

If im Monahan's agent, I don't re-up July 1st. What if he scores 25-30 again next year? He's gonna need to get paid real cashola.

Flash Walken · 03-21-2015, 09:36 AM

Monahan is the team's best forward, why wouldn't you want him playing top line minutes?

Time to accept that the offense with Backlund just isn't there.

Really don't get the motivation for the question. Why wouldn't you play your best centre on the top line, and why wouldn't you play your best wingers with him?

Backlund is a good depth player, that's it.

Erick Estrada · 03-21-2015, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Huh?

He's already a 2nd line center who's had success on a first line last season... So how is 3rd line his cieling?

He would not be 2nd line on a really good team and he's a placeholder for Bennett. He's the perfect 3rd line center as he's good defensively and has some offensive skill. If we are lucky he can be another Stephan Yelle.

kyuss275 · 03-21-2015, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Huh?

He's already a 2nd line center who's had success on a first line last season... So how is 3rd line his cieling?

I don't think you can go by where players play in the flames roster to say that they are a solid 2nd line player. Do you think Jones and Bouma are true 2nd line players? I sure as hell don't . In my opinion I see Backlund as a 2b-3a center. Granted if he played with some true top 6 talent it could change my mind that he is a legit all league wide 2nd line center.

Erick Estrada · 03-21-2015, 09:41 AM

Also of note the Flames have turned into a one line team as when the 1st line gets shut down the Flames lose and at times get shut out. Easy answer to the question really.

GranteedEV · 03-21-2015, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He would not be 2nd line on a really good team and he's a placeholder for Bennett. He's the perfect 3rd line center as he's good defensively and has some offensive skill. If we are lucky he can be another Stephan Yelle.

A really good team likely has two interchangable #1 Centers. No Backlund isn't a #1. But he'd be a #2 even on teams like Chicago.

Even Bennett or Monahan would not be 2nd line on the Penguins.

Erick Estrada · 03-21-2015, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

A really good team likely has two interchangable #1 Centers. No Backlund isn't a #1. But he'd be a #2 even on teams like Chicago.

Even Bennett or Monahan would not be 2nd line on the Penguins.

Way to cherry pick the one team with a situation of having two #1 centers. Not quite sure what kind of point you are trying to make here? I don't like the chances of any team winning a cup with Backlund as their #2 center but that's just my opinion. I know some of you have an attachment to the guy because he's had a long tenure with the team and is a good guy but he's really not an offensively gifted player. If you are building a really good team you have him penciled in as your 3rd line center.

Mike F · 03-21-2015, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He would not be 2nd line on a really good team and he's a placeholder for Bennett. He's the perfect 3rd line center as he's good defensively and has some offensive skill. If we are lucky he can be another Stephan Yelle.

Backlund has put up 21 points in the last 30 games playing exclusively with Bouma and Jones. That's a 57 point pace without the benefit of top 6 wingers. Put Backlund with two top 6 wingers and I could easily see him putting up 70 points, which is a legitimate 2nd line centre number.

That being said, the Backlund line is contributing offensively, and Backlund I don't see any other wingers currently on the team that I think would contribute more offensively and still be reliable enough to get the assignment of playing against the other team's top line.

So, you leave it as is.

Also, this isn't the year where you use St. Louis as the measure for whether you shake up the line up. They're a big, deep team that would have the advantage over Calgary no matter how the lines were configured.

Flame19,289 · 03-21-2015, 10:05 AM

Yeah, Hudler, Monahan, & Gaudreau have been great together. All three have 20+ goals so far this season and the chemistry had been undeniable.

But I wouldn't consider the Flames to be just a one line team. Sure, the top line is far and away the Flames' most dangerous. But the Flames have 10 players with 10+ goals... No other team in the Western Conference has more (Dallas also has 10), and most have only 6 to 8.

Even though the Flames have 10 players with 10+ goals, Mikael Backlund isn't one of them. Maybe he gets his 10th tonight, as he's definitely been playing great as of late. But I certainly don't think he's being underutilized. His utilization has been perfect, in my opinion.