Something tells me Backlund would take a hometown discount to stay put. The guy is very well loved in the local charitable circles, and he loves it here too.
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Backlund's next deal, will be viewed in 4 years the same way Stajan has been the past few years. 4-5 mil will be a lot for a 4th line center when he takes a 4th row seat to Monny, Bennett and Jankowski. You need to be ahead of the curve when selling, it's the only way to be sustainable - ala the Blackhawks method. Its a tough love but it keeps us from paying 4 mil on our 4th line center. Need new blood coming in. The other concern is keeping them past expiration ala Kipper/Iggy, get little or nothing for them.
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Stajan wasn't half as good at his peak as Backlund is right now. Stajan was the default 1st line center on a bad team in Toronto, inflating his offensive stats.
Backlund isn't even given great offensive opportunities, and he still produces admirably. And your expectation is that he'll be an overpaid 4th line center in 4 years? Just odd.
Matt Stajan has nothing to do with Mikael Backlund
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Backlund already has taken a "hometown discount". The deal he is currently on. He is going to be a 29 year old UFA. His last chance at a big payday.
Extending Backlund might in fact be the best move but the Flames are going to have to pay him market value. And there is nothing wrong with that. If the money is there for players who don't deserve it, there should be money for players who do.
Besides, he is still under contract for 17 more months. And a very owner friendly contract to boot. See how healthy and how well he performs over the next year before making that decision.
Backlund already has taken a "hometown discount". The deal he is currently on. He is going to be a 29 year old UFA. His last chance at a big payday.
Extending Backlund might in fact be the best move but the Flames are going to have to pay him market value. And there is nothing wrong with that. If the money is there for players who don't deserve it, there should be money for players who do.
Besides, he is still under contract for 17 more months. And a very owner friendly contract to boot. See how healthy and how well he performs over the next year before making that decision.
Only is his current season is Backlunds AAV less than his market value. He really didn't do much prior to this season to suggest a "hometown" discount.
It really comes down to two main things regarding the decision on Backlund whenever that's made:
The value that Treliving is being offered versus the contract cost of keeping him in Flames' silks for basically the rest of his career. The constant need to pigeon hole Backlund as what we continue to expect a 3C to be is quite outdated in 2017. He's a key player for this team regardless of whatever direction you plan to take.
If they don't view Backlund as a core peice than sell him now, his price may never be higher. I'm in the camp where I think he will be an integral peice in the long run, Bennett has not proved he can play center in the NHL, neither has Jankowski, and Monahan still has consistency issues and goes invisible for long stretches. Backlund at a similar pay scale of Kadri is what he deserves, if this team doesn't want to pay that then we don't deserve him tbh.
I think that given the kind of player he is (doesn't light the league on fire offensively), Backlund will always be undervalued around the league. If we decide to trade him next season because we figure we won't have room to re-sign him, I don't see us getting much more than a really late 1st round pick, if that. That's not worth giving up Backlund to me considering his impact as a whole on this team.
I also think the cost to re-sign Backlund will be less than his actual value. He loves the Flames more than any other player on the team. If that means we have to move out contracts to keep him, I do it. If it means we have to give up some draft picks to get out of Brouwer's contract, I do it. He just means too much to this team.
The moment you trade Backlund is the same moment you want him back.
I think in years past that may be the case but I'm pretty sure if the Flames would make him available their would be a line of contending teams clamoring for his services especially at the deadline. I don't want this but Backlunds value has gone up tremondously this year and teams know how good he is. He would cost a lot.
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Backlund's next deal, will be viewed in 4 years the same way Stajan has been the past few years. 4-5 mil will be a lot for a 4th line center when he takes a 4th row seat to Monny, Bennett and Jankowski. You need to be ahead of the curve when selling, it's the only way to be sustainable - ala the Blackhawks method. Its a tough love but it keeps us from paying 4 mil on our 4th line center. Need new blood coming in. The other concern is keeping them past expiration ala Kipper/Iggy, get little or nothing for them.
Let me know when Stajan could crack Sweedens lineup. Cuz he probably doesn't even crack the Czechs B team.
McKenzie says the Rangers are looking for a right shot d-man heading into the trade deadline.
While their dream scenario is acquiring Shattenkirk, McKenzie thinks they most likely settle for a lesser right shot d-man because of all the 1st round picks they have give up recently.
McKenzie says the Rangers are looking for a right shot d-man heading into the trade deadline.
While their dream scenario is acquiring Shattenkirk, McKenzie thinks they most likely settle for a lesser right shot d-man because of all the 1st round picks they have give up recently.
I think there's next to no chance Backlund stays here. He will rightfully want a payday, he's earned it this year, and I think he is widely thought of as 'underrated' league-wide. There are going to be a lot of teams hungry for Backlund, because he is the type of player that would be on a Stanley Cup winning team 3rd line. He probably is the best 3rd line centre in the NHL, or top 5 of that specific role.
When Sidney Crosby sings your praises... you know other NHL and hockey experts are noticing things too. Calgary's got a gem in Backlund, and they won't be able to afford him plus a goalie, 3rd/4th D pairing and Tkachuk and Bennett.
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