QOTD: What to make of Mikael Backlund? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 10-15-2015, 08:42 AM

Off to a terrible start ...

he was spotty in training camp suggesting maybe he's hurt. Or is in the doghouse? Lack of confidence?

codynw · 10-15-2015, 08:46 AM

I'm gonna say just a slow start. But since it's Backlund, he's probably got a minor injury bugging him too.

Resolute 14 · 10-15-2015, 08:50 AM

... it's been three games ...

H2SO4(aq) · 10-15-2015, 08:50 AM

After 3 games? More than likely he just hasnt meshed with his linemates. Give it time, or let Hartley find players that he has chemistry with, he'll be fine.

saillias · 10-15-2015, 08:50 AM

I don't know about getting passed by young talented forwards when it's Stajan who's stolen a top 9 role from him. Clearly he's in the doghouse. If he's hurt again just shut it down for a while because we went through this exact story last year.

RobbieT · 10-15-2015, 08:54 AM

Agree that it is really early. BUT I do wonder if Granlund would be a higher scorer and more suited at a 3rd line center, which may make Backlund trade bait with decent return... BUT again, pretty early in the season to be worrying about someone's productivity...

Ashasx · 10-15-2015, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieT

Agree that it is really early. BUT I do wonder if Granlund would be a higher scorer and more suited at a 3rd line center, which may make Backlund trade bait with decent return... BUT again, pretty early in the season to be worrying about someone's productivity...

Granlund would get destroyed with Backlund's assignments.

codynw · 10-15-2015, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieT

Agree that it is really early. BUT I do wonder if Granlund would be a higher scorer and more suited at a 3rd line center, which may make Backlund trade bait with decent return... BUT again, pretty early in the season to be worrying about someone's productivity...

It's not that he's not scoring. He hasn't been good defensively, which is normally what he's best at.

hockey.modern · 10-15-2015, 09:01 AM

I'll judge once he gets better guys on his line

Huntingwhale · 10-15-2015, 09:03 AM

Way to early. If we're gonna criticize someone like Backlund for his slow start, then guys like Gio should be under scrutiny as well.

But again, it's only been 3 games. He'll be fine once he gets going. That or he'll be injured soon enough.

Bandwagon In Flames · 10-15-2015, 09:09 AM

Honestly it couldn't hurt to scratch him for Granlund and see how he responds in the next game (especially since it's back-to-back games).

Not giving up on the guy, but he sure doesn't seem to step foot in the offensive zone. That's why I want to see him on Bennett's wing. So he doesn't have to be ONLY defensively minded.

IgiTang · 10-15-2015, 09:18 AM

Regardless of what is wrong with him, he needs top 6 minutes or he needs to be sat to recover. A %80 healthy Backlund is no good for this team. He needs to be playing with an edge.

That said, with Bennett along side him, I think k it helps both players.

If management is going to keep Bennett at Center, then you have to start looking at trade options. I think there are a few teams that you could move Backlund and a B prospect to for a A prospect or a younger guy with high ceiling and size but has some NHL experience.

Best example I can think of off the top of my head is Etem to NYR. It fetched Hagland. I don't think Etem is any better than Backlund.

Berglund is a guy that I like.

CroFlames · 10-15-2015, 09:21 AM

Early, but he's supposed to be one of the leaders by now. Setting an example of how to be prepared for a hockey season.

I'm concerned, but not panicking yet about his level of play. I think he has a pretty long rope until the end of this month, but come November if there are no improvements, then you look at your options.

If he's not contributing offensively, he needs to be dominant at the dot and in his own end. He's currently not performing well in any zone.

Again no panic. But there's a hair of concern.

bubbsy · 10-15-2015, 09:22 AM

i didn't pick any of the above options. Backlund is what he is. A guy who can play "quiet/invisible" minutes, where he's good defensively, but isn't necessarily going to be generating solid offensive chances regularly.

Getting points should be considered gravy, giving up chances defensively should really be what he's graded on.

Now, i haven't had a chance to watch the first 3 games closely enough to see how he's fared, but am hoping he finds his stride soon. He's never been a big time start of the season guy due to injuries, etc.

SofaProfessor · 10-15-2015, 09:24 AM

Bad start combined with other guys competing hard when they get their shot. It's hard to give Backlund tons of minutes when the 1st line is absolutely flying and looks like they could play all 60 minutes, when the 4th line is playing hard and creating chances, and when Bennett is seemingly an inch away from potting a goal every shift. Even if he's not necessarily bad, just pedestrian, he's being outplayed. Not a bad problem to have unless you're Backlund, I guess.

CroFlames · 10-15-2015, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i didn't pick any of the above options. Backlund is what he is. A guy who can play "quiet/invisible" minutes, where he's good defensively, but isn't necessarily going to be generating solid offensive chances regularly.

Getting points should be considered gravy, giving up chances defensively should really be what he's graded on.

Now, i haven't had a chance to watch the first 3 games closely enough to see how he's fared, but am hoping he finds his stride soon. He's never been a big time start of the season guy due to injuries, etc.

The consensus on the board though is his defensive play has left much to be desired. Most people wouldn't be concerned if he was playing well but wasn't getting points - that's Backs in a nutshell anyway.

The concern is the defensive play along with the offensive play.

Toonage · 10-15-2015, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

I'll judge once he gets better guys on his line

Exactly. If he moves to a line with Bennett & Frolik I would expect much different results from much more ice time. Assuming he isn't nursing a small injury.

terminator · 10-15-2015, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

... it's been three games ...

Lol what a question after 3 games

Sainters7 · 10-15-2015, 09:34 AM

Too early, give it time to gel with his line. Dude was arguably our best forward in the first round last year before the top line finally woke up in game 6.

Hate to say it cuz I love Backs, but knowing his history, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's nicked up again.

Posted from Calgarypuck.com App for Android

foshizzle11 · 10-15-2015, 09:38 AM

I think he needs better line mates, he needs to be better at both ends of the ice and he has to lead by example, that is when he is best.

It has only been 3 games, nothing to worry about yet. I don't think the team has been jiving yet.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Bennett, Backlund, Frolik 2nd line.

Then we could have our top line, JMH, then those guys above as the 2nd line. 3rd line could be Raymond, Granlund and Jooris. 4th line Ferland, Stajan and Jones. And these two lines are interchangeable, depending on who is playing better overall gets more time. That leaves Bollig the odd man out right now, we will see if this happens, I kind of doubt it, but one can hope.