Reports: Backlund to play for Kelowna after WJHC

[dobbles]

yeah, thats definitely a big factor.

the thing that i was thinking that made this seem weird is that if he really is expected to have a shot at next years team, that the ahl would be better suited to getting him ready. higher competition, lots of travel, playing in packed arenas, etc...

(ok i made that last part up!)

[PIMking]

OMG your going to burn a year of his contract. Sutters going to have to sometime. Besides this would be the best year for him in the AHL with Bubba dont forget hes swedish and a good guy to learn from in Lundmark down here to make him better. But I guess that Bubba wouldnt be good for him to adapt to the NA game.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by dobbles

yeah, thats definitely a big factor.

the thing that i was thinking that made this seem weird is that if he really is expected to have a shot at next years team, that the ahl would be better suited to getting him ready. higher competition, lots of travel, playing in packed arenas, etc...

(ok i made that last part up!)

Haha Chicago and hershey seem to be the only AHL teams packing arenas. Besides the ECHL seems to have better attendance than the AHL most times. I think its because the ECHL owners can bring in the own guys and the ahl your stuck with what your parent gives you.

[jeremywilhelm]

The kid needs to toughen up, and play his ass off every game, only place to do that is in canada in the Dub, where the wild things are and the media is a relentless beast!

[Iggyinla]

So today is Saturday and there has been no announcement of him signing with the Rockets.. So does this mean that he is going to play with the QC Flames or stick with the big club. I was hoping he would go to Kelowna.

[IHATEOILERS]

I really think the WHL is the best place for him for the rest of the year - that being said, I'm about the last person qualified to be making that assessment.

I guess the rookie contract issue probably isn't as big of a deal as I am making it out to be. The most important thing is his development, since his contract status becomes irrelevant if he doesn't develop properly.

[mikey_the_redneck]

The Euro leagues don't play many games. It seems to me that Sutter's first priority with Backlund is ice time.....in North America. I think Backlund is guaranteed lots of ice time in Kelowna, maybe not so much in QC.

Also, Nemisz had 1g, 2a last night.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

ICE CHIPS: The Rockets expect to learn Monday if F Mikael Backlund will join the team. He needs clearance from the Swedish federation to play junior in Canada. Backlund is now with the Calgary Flames. . .

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/st....php?id=157382

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Looks like Backlund will start on a line with Canadian WJC forward Jamie Benn and trade deadline acquisition Ian Duval. Big game tomorrow, as the Rockest host the T-C Americans.

“Our plan for Mikael is to keep him in the middle,” said Huska after Monday‘s practice, which saw Backlund on a line with Benn and Duval. “Being at centre is one of his strengths, and we think it‘s best to utilize that.

“I skated with Backlund and Benn today, and it was amazing,” said Duval,who had 50 points in 71 games last season. “They make it so easy because they‘re such dynamic players.”
Said Benn: “The line, it worked out pretty good. They‘re two really good players and it should be pretty fun.”

Huska admitted Backlund, Benn and Duval moved pucks very well and “looked good.” Then again, he also said the recent additions of Backlund, Duval, Ryley Grantham and goaltender Mark Guggenberger has infused the team with new energy.

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/st....php?id=157877

[flame3132]

Where can I see the game online?

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by flame3132

Where can I see the game online?

http://livestream.whl.ca/

[gordo67]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Just to expand on what was said above...

The Hitmen were originally owned by a group that consisted of Brett Hart, Theo Fluery, and Joe Sakic. They were sold to the Flames ownership group in 1997, and been owned by them ever since. The Flames kept the name Hitmen.

19 Owners (some of the notables)

Bob Bassen
Bret Hart
Theoren Fleury
Anders Hedberg
Graham James
Sheldon Kennedy
Dan Lambert
Joe Sakic
Tyler Wright

[dercoch]

Well, I guess the time has finally come for me to add something constructive to the board after years of lurking. I grew up in Calgary, and have been a fan since the day the Flames moved to town and went on their first playoff run (I still can't stand Dino Ciccarelli). I've been reading Calgarypuck for a long time (started reading during the Gilbert-Savard fiasco) and now I have a concrete reason to sign up. I live in Kelowna, and have tickets for the game tonight. I thought that since I'll have a chance to watch Backlund first-hand, I would post a bit of a recap after the game tonight. Now be warned, I'm not an NHL scout, so my observations might not be the most astute, but as I know from reading here, any information is better than none (most of the time). I'm not a season ticket holder for the Rockets, but the recent developments here might make me pick up a few more games as the season goes on. For the games I can't attend, I'll try to get you all some information from the local papers or radio...or whatever. I hope that I'll meet the high standards set by some of the others that have contributed info about our prospects in the past. Off to the game...I'll talk to you later.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

After being introduced on Monday, Backlund, Benn and Duval looked impressive during Tuesday‘s practice, which saw Backlund win the shootout drill.
“I‘m really looking forward to playing,” said Backlund, who made quite the splash last month after deciding to leave his men‘s team in Sweden to play in Canada. The six-foot centre was drafted 24th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2007, and sports good speed, size and shooting accuracy.

“I felt better in practice (Tuesday) than Monday, and it felt good to win (the shootout) because it‘s been a long time since I won it,” continued Backlund, who made his NHL debut last week before being reassigned by the Flames to Kelowna on Sunday. “But I‘m excited about playing because I‘m on a line with two good players who have a lot of skill.”

Asked what it was like facing Backlund during practice on Monday and Tuesday, Guggenberger wasn‘t at a loss for words.

“Without a doubt, he‘s got talent,” said Guggenberger. “Any time you get called up to play in the NHL, you‘re something else.

“It‘s exciting to watch him, it‘s exciting to play against him and he‘ll definitely make me better. And he‘s got a really hard shot.”

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/st....php?id=158132

[Matty81]

Just home from the game, my 2 cents.

Backlund 0g 1a 2 PIM

Had a partial breakaway he put into the breadbasket of Pickard, one notably great crossice pass on the PP, and took a totally undeserved 2 min for holding when an American came charging at him gloves to the face and he grabbed on as he was falling over. Got an assist on a world class individual effort by Jamie Benn on the winning goal.

The Good:
Backlund was probably one of the top 5 or 6 players on the ice, showed great intelligence and hockey sense with his ability to find the open man and protect the puck. What stands out immediately is that he is a very smart hockey player. He got tonnes of ice time including playing the point a bit on the PP and killing penalties which bodes well for the future at least until Colin Long comes back (Kelowna's no. 1 centre). Upon recovering the puck in the defensive zone he was brilliant at turning the puck up ice quickly and either headmanning or stickhandling out of his own zone. He was responsible defensively and played a sound game in his own end.

The Bad:
Pushed off the puck a couple of times and looked a bit soft. Both in terms of skating ability and puck control was not a cut above other players on the ice and didn't display gamebreaking physical attributes. Was indirect in the offensive zone, preferring to peel off rather than go hard to the net.

All in all pretty much a meh. He didn't impress greatly or play badly. For his first game in the WHL he showed promise.

Other notes:
Grantham wasn't too noticeable other than a slashing penalty away from the play in the neutral zone. He showed good effort and desire but didn't have much to show for it. He got a decent amount of ice time.

Jamie Benn is an amazing player at this level. Tyler Myers was not an amazing player. His puckhandling were absolutely horrible and he clearly has alot of maturation to do before he is NHL ready, I can't see his upside being much more than a stay at homer unless he really improves his coordination. Many of the fans were riding him for his repeated giveaways and poor passing.

[dercoch]

Back from the game, and I have a couple of thoughts.

The Rockets came back to win this one 3-2 with three unanswered goals in the third. They were down 2-0 after one, and were lucky it was only two. The first goal came early on a weak play by the Kelowna goalie (great name, though...Guggenberger). Outshot 16-3 in the first, and standing around watching like it was a parade. The second was more even, and had some good emotion to it as well. A good tilt between Jamie Benn and one of the Tri City Americans whose name I have forgotten. Ended with the American going to the dressing room for repairs after getting cut open during the scrap. The third was all Rockets. Granted, they got a couple of good bounces to help along the way, but they did carry the play, only allowing one shot in the last 8 minutes.

Our other prospect in this game, Grantham took a couple of bad penalties in the second that did nothing to help the comeback. The first was a little slash away from the play that you can see in any game on a number of occasions, but it seems that his reputation as a tough guy might have earned him a bit of extra attention from the ref. The second call was one that you hate to see. A delayed penalty coming to Tri Cities, and he gets sucked into a shoving match. As the ref was breaking it up, Grantham comes over the top and gives the American a poke in the beak that took the power play away. He'll need to keep his head a bit better than that if he's to be an effective enforcer. In his defense, he was playing his role all night, agitating and throwing hits. There were a couple of times that he got caught too deep in the offensive zone to help on the backcheck, so overall one is led to believe that his decision making needs to improve.

Our boy Mikael had a solid game. Skating well all night at both ends of the rink. I wasn't aware that he was as solid defensively as he is. Perhaps I haven't been paying close enough attention, but his willingness to play defence was impressive. He was strong coming back to help out in his own end, and was even behind the Kelowna net a few times battling for the puck. On that note, when he did get into those situations, more often than not, he would skate away from the battle with the puck. Not only in his own end, but all over the ice he showed good ability to take the puck out of a scrum and get to open ice. Another thing that stood out for me was his willingness to hold the puck in the face of pressure and make a play instead of just ringing it around the boards to start a cycle. In fact, just such a play set up the winning goal on which he drew an assist. A few times during the game, he would pull up after crossing the blue line and make a play. Much to my surprise, he was fairly physical all night. This might not be new to people who have seen him play more often, but I was not aware that he had that dimension to his game. He threw a few hits tonight, and not just leaning on the guy, rather trying to "give him the business."

It seems the coaching staff in Kelowna have taken a liking to him, as he got a load of minutes. Starting the game, playing on the PP and the PK as well as being out in the last couple of minutes of a one-goal game.

That's about all I can think of at this point, and I'm sure that I've missed something in here. If any of you have questions about the game, let me know, and I'll do what I can to answer. Also, if I think of anything else, I'll post it tomorrow.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Strange on Myers since his passing and puckhandling in the World Juniors were top rate, I thought he was one of the top couple defensemen in the tournament. Good to hear on Backlund though.

[dercoch]

Myers did look lost last night. He was handling the puck like a live grenade all night. His footwork was suspect as well...saw him trip over himself a couple of times. To be fair, he has been much better in all of the other Kelowna games I have been to. Is there such a thing as a world jr. hangover? I expect that he'll be better the next time out.

[Jetsfan]

[quote=Matty81;1607127]Just home from the game, my 2 cents.

Backlund 0g 1a 2 PIM

Had a partial breakaway he put into the breadbasket of Pickard, one notably great crossice pass on the PP, and took a totally undeserved 2 min for holding when an American came charging at him gloves to the face and he grabbed on as he was falling over. Got an assist on a world class individual effort by Jamie Benn on the winning goal.

The Good:
Backlund was probably one of the top 5 or 6 players on the ice, showed great intelligence and hockey sense with his ability to find the open man and protect the puck. What stands out immediately is that he is a very smart hockey player. He got tonnes of ice time including playing the point a bit on the PP and killing penalties which bodes well for the future at least until Colin Long comes back (Kelowna's no. 1 centre). Upon recovering the puck in the defensive zone he was brilliant at turning the puck up ice quickly and either headmanning or stickhandling out of his own zone. He was responsible defensively and played a sound game in his own end.

The Bad:
Pushed off the puck a couple of times and looked a bit soft. Both in terms of skating ability and puck control was not a cut above other players on the ice and didn't display gamebreaking physical attributes. Was indirect in the offensive zone, preferring to peel off rather than go hard to the net.

All in all pretty much a meh. He didn't impress greatly or play badly. For his first game in the WHL he showed promise.

Thanks for the info. I noticed him doing this too against the Islanders. He's going to have to learn to go to the net. Otherwise, he's a real talented player. Glad to hear he's getting lots of ice time.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

“That was a sweet goal,” said Backlund. “Me, I was a little nervous because I didn‘t know what to expect, and maybe the team was, too. But we came back real strong and that‘s what good teams do. It was a good comeback and a good win.”

“We played 20 minutes tonight, in the first, and then they took over,” Pickard said. “They‘re a good team over there; they threw pucks on the net, had a couple of lucky bounces and we didn‘t capitalize on our power play.
“I don‘t know if that was the turning point or not, but they came on strong. Once that line (of Backlund, Benn and Ian Duval) figured it out and played together a little bit and got the kinks out, they really dominated the game.”

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/st....php?id=158374