What is up with Sam Bennett???

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Boxman

Not impossible to resign Backlund, but is it really desirable to resign a player on the wrong side of 25 who is performing at his all time best?

Right. You should always get rid of any player who is at his peak performance, because if you kept him, you might do something stupid like win hockey games or something.

[Boxman]

I'm not going to reiterate an argument that has been made a million times. Everyone knows what I could and should reply - I won't bother.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Boxman

Backlund would most likely sign a contract with a Stanley Cup contender who is loading up for a deep run into the playoffs. To stay with Calgary, he will want high term and dollars a la Giordano as someone else put it. Calgary's situation is different from other teams in that they have recent high draft picks Bennett and Tkachuk that we probably want to keep. Other teams picked in the bottom 15 in recent years and don't have the same considerations - different cap situations. Not impossible to resign Backlund, but is it really desirable to resign a player on the wrong side of 25 who is performing at his all time best?

The money doesn't work out - economically sound decisions are easy to talk about in hindsight, but difficult to make in practice. Not to be overly critical of Giordano, but his contract doesn't seem economical even when he's playing at his best. We will have to face the reality that some contracts will be a good deal, some average, some a bad deal. It's tough to just decide to economize and then do it.

The wrong side of 25? When did 25 become too old!

[MarkGio]

I think Mangiapane would do wonders for Bennett at the centre. He's the only winger in the system who's dynamic enough to give Bennett some space. But Mangiapane isn't complicated like Gaudreau to play with. I'd really like to see Mangiapane - Bennett - Ferland as a third line at some point this season.

[FlamesFan68]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

OK, you just lost all credibility, if you had any. Fleury played a grand total of 42 regular-season games in the AHL. He did not make the team out of training camp in 1988; no surprise there, as he was a kid fresh out of junior and had a grand total of 10 games of minor pro experience, and the Flames were the best and deepest team in the NHL at the time. The next time Fleury was called up, it was for good, and he went on to have a spectacular NHL career. Yeah, they sure bungled his development, didn't they?

Then you turn around and criticize the Flames for not sending Bennett back to junior – despite the fact that they did. Since you have evidently forgotten, I remind you that he spent most of 2014-15 on the IR list, and when healthy, was sent back to Kingston to finish the Frontenacs' season. His performance there pretty much showed that he had outgrown the competition in junior, and he made the team out of training camp the following year.

But hey, whatever floats your boat. Your standards are so loose, and so self-contradictory, that you could accuse every team of blowing every player's development; but by all means, confine your venom to the Flames, against whom you obviously have a particular vendetta. Go nuts. Enjoy yourself. Just don't expect the rest of us to buy it.

No credibility lost at all, just your imagination is lost, if anything you have confirmed everything I have said with some of the statements you said that were true. Sometimes it is best to send players down, sometimes they are best left in junior to thrive. I did not forget Bennett was injured (a self-professed hidden injury) in his first year. In fact, it probably pushed his development back and put it in bold that he should have spent time in the AHL to develop.

You on the other hand have very loose standards, thinking that players should be called up to the NHL as soon as they are drafted in the early first rounds. You would not do very well managing a team with that philosophy. Burke himself has contradicted himself, stating he doesn't like player's coming straight out of junior on their first year and making the NHL. There's been nothing but this occurring in Calgary since Treliving was inserted by Burke.

[prizefighterinferno]

Originally Posted by Boxman

Backlund would most likely sign a contract with a Stanley Cup contender who is loading up for a deep run into the playoffs. To stay with Calgary, he will want high term and dollars a la Giordano as someone else put it. Calgary's situation is different from other teams in that they have recent high draft picks Bennett and Tkachuk that we probably want to keep. Other teams picked in the bottom 15 in recent years and don't have the same considerations - different cap situations. Not impossible to resign Backlund, but is it really desirable to resign a player on the wrong side of 25 who is performing at his all time best?

Not sure why you feel compelled to speak for Backlund on his desire to stay or why you think that it is impossible to imagine Calgary being an attractive place with solid young pieces that is ready to legitimately compete for a cup at the end of next season.

I think every player ideally wants both term and dollars in a situation they enjoy. Having spoken to Backlund a couple times before, he seems legitimately passionate about the community and being a Flame, and I would imagine (although I could certainly be wrong) that he would be motivated to stay if possible.

Also, the "wrong side of 25"?

[Flash Walken]

If you can get Backlund to sign for a similar cap hit as now I think it's a no-brainer to re-sign him.

But, and it's a big but, it was only a couple of years ago that he was signing a 'show-me' contract, this might be his last opportunity to sign somewhere for big coin.

Backlund is a player I would actually even give term to if he was willing to sacrifice actual dollars.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If you can get Backlund to sign for a similar cap hit as now I think it's a no-brainer to re-sign him.

But, and it's a big but, it was only a couple of years ago that he was signing a 'show-me' contract, this might be his last opportunity to sign somewhere for big coin.

Backlund is a player I would actually even give term to if he was willing to sacrifice actual dollars.

Backlund is going to be 29 when his contract expires looking for 5-7 years for probably $5M per season (maybe more if the term is lighter). While Backlundis such an important player on the team this year I feel he is a player they should consider moving on from.

It is actually looking like a great move for the Flames burning that year off Bennett's contract in the playoffs in 2015. First and foremost he deserved to play those games in the playoffs but he only had 2 full seasons to prove he warrants the big dollars. Gaudreau did it but Bennett is almost a sure fire bridge contract. The Flames cap situation heading into the summer looks pretty good and Bennett is only going to cost 2.5-3.5M for the next 2-3 years.

[GoJetsGo]

I have a feeling Backlund re-ups here at a deal / term that everyone will find agreeable. He seems like a fixture in the community and I could see him wanting to stick around.

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

I have a feeling Backlund re-ups here at a deal / term that everyone will find agreeable. He seems like a fixture in the community and I could see him wanting to stick around.

I was just going to post this. Seems to like it here, the city, and seems like a no muss, no fuss kind of guy. Love what he brings to this team. Sutters best pick?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Boxman

I'm not going to reiterate an argument that has been made a million times. Everyone knows what I could and should reply - I won't bother.

I wish you would, because I really don't know. The complaint made about this obsession with maximizing player values in trades is a legitimate one. The goal in signing Backlund to his last contract was not to get a great deal in a trade at the end of it. Backlund is a great player who helps the Flames win hockey games. In the next two, three, four years the Flames look like a team trending to a position where they will need a player like Backlund to win hockey games, and hopefully a championship. While I have no doubt they could get a great return in a trade for Backlund, I remain sceptical that that is the best decision—it certainly is not this year when they look poised to grab a playoff berth, and possibly not next year when they look to take another step on strides made this season.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

I have a feeling Backlund re-ups here at a deal / term that everyone will find agreeable. He seems like a fixture in the community and I could see him wanting to stick around.

Mehh. I see this kind of post anytime a player is coming to an end of his flames contract. The days of hometown discounts are a thing of the past. The last player i can think of that did it for the flames was Glencross. Glencross has been very vocal about it being the wrong decision.

With the league getting younger, players nearing 29-30 are going to want to cash in on what could be their last contract. IMO if you want Backlund re-signed with the flames you are looking at 5 year, $25 million at the very least.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I wish you would, because I really don't know. The complaint made about this obsession with maximizing player values in trades is a legitimate one. The goal in signing Backlund to his last contract was not to get a great deal in a trade at the end of it. Backlund is a great player who helps the Flames win hockey games. In the next two, three, four years the Flames look like a team trending to a position where they will need a player like Backlund to win hockey games, and hopefully a championship. While I have no doubt they could get a great return in a trade for Backlund, I remain sceptical that that is the best decision—it certainly is not this year when they look poised to grab a playoff berth, and possibly not next year when they look to take another step on strides made this season.

Really what I wish would have happened when Backs got his extension would be pushing for that 4-5 year term. He said he wanted more than 3 years but obviously that didn't happen. Based on how Backlund played prior to his extension is is believable Treliving could have signed him for similar $ on longer term. Having said that it is risky for the Flames to go 5 years.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

The wrong side of 25? When did 25 become too old!

Definitely too old for a Junior A team.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Backlund is going to be 29 when his contract expires looking for 5-7 years for probably $5M per season (maybe more if the term is lighter). While Backlundis such an important player on the team this year I feel he is a player they should consider moving on from.

Without Backlund this is a lottery team/dumpster fire. People seriously under rate how important he is.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Mehh. I see this kind of post anytime a player is coming to an end of his flames contract. The days of hometown discounts are a thing of the past. The last player i can think of that did it for the flames was Glencross. Glencross has been very vocal about it being the wrong decision.

With the league getting younger, players nearing 29-30 are going to want to cash in on what could be their last contract. IMO if you want Backlund re-signed with the flames you are looking at 5 year, $25 million at the very least.

Not my fault you interpreted it the wrong way. I said a deal people find agreeable. That doesn't need to be a steal / discount, just a fair deal for both sides.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by codynw

Without Backlund this is a lottery team/dumpster fire. People seriously under rate how important he is.

Oh, please. As badly as people underestimate Backlund it is posts like these that unnecessarily and dramatically over-rate his individual contribution to the team this season. He has been terrific, and yes, the Flames would not be as good without him, but they certainly would be better than the likes of Arizona and Colorado. This is hyperbole.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by codynw

Without Backlund this is a lottery team/dumpster fire. People seriously under rate how important he is.

I hope that we have other pieces on the team and in the system that we can avoid paying Backlund $5M per for his 30-35 year old seasons. Monahan has some work to do but is only 22 I feel he can improve his 2 way play. If we can get Backlund under $5M then extend him but I am worried about not having the money to re-sign Brodie, Hamilton, Tkachuk and Bennett's 3rd contract if we hand out a big money long term deal to Backs. If the organization believes that Monahan-Bennett are the future 1-2 centers on the team then there is not enough money to pay Backlund.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Posters that wanted Bennett back with Gaudreau might get their wish.

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg
With Brouwer’s imminent return, looks like #Flames are reuniting Monahan with Brouwer and Versteeg. Gaudreau with Bennett and Chiasson.

[Par]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Posters that wanted Bennett back with Gaudreau might get their wish.

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg
With Brouwer’s imminent return, looks like #Flames are reuniting Monahan with Brouwer and Versteeg. Gaudreau with Bennett and Chiasson.

Chiasson does not belong in that group.