[News] With the 21st overall pick Flames select C Mark Jankowski

[GGG]

Originally Posted by getbak

Next year?

I thought he had two more left but was wrong. Would have been real nice to have Backlund cheaper for one more year.

[Yamer]

I had really banked on Bennett eventually co-existing as the 1-2 centres (along with Monahan) on this team. Maybe even supplanting Monahan as the #1. Of course, that still might happen. IMO, centre is the hardest position to grasp at the NHL level.

However, with Jankowski's constant upwards progression and development the Flames have a very, very good problem to deal with. If Monahan is #1, and Backlund/Jankowski can handle the 2-3 position depending on need and game situation, suddenly Bennett (who has already looked far more comfortable and effective on the wing) can be placed on the wing.

Bennett moving over suddenly doesn't look like such a step back when you have Jankowski leaping so far forward.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It has to happen now to make sense.

Stockton would have to add.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I wonder how much Bennett gets in a contract this off-season. Flames probably saved themselves a few buck by having his contract burn a year in the playoffs.

Around 2m judging by comparables made in another thread. Bennett's camp will want 2 years to quickly prove himself for a payday, Flames will be looking for 3 to take advantage of an extremely low caphit on a potentially productive player.

[oldschoolcalgary]

hopefully Janko turns out as good as some people seem to think he will.

Until he plays consistently in the NHL, i think its pretty early in his development to confidently project how he's going to turn out.

right now i couldn't even begin to guess what kind of player he'll be at this level

[Split98]

Janko panning out would solidify this as a team to beat IMO. In a year where our first line has arguably not been our first line... a 3rd line involving the potential of Janko and Bennett is very exciting.

Gaureau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Lazar

Is quite the trio of lines. Of course, the 3rd line is all 'potential' at this point but it's tough to argue that optimism isn't unwarranted at this point.

As far as salary concerns go... I always have a hard time placing Brouwer's $4.5M in a lineup. That, and a lower Stajan salary answers those questions IMO.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Split98

Janko panning out would solidify this as a team to beat IMO. In a year where our first line has arguably not been our first line... a 3rd line involving the potential of Janko and Bennett is very exciting.

Gaureau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Lazar

Is quite the trio of lines. Of course, the 3rd line is all 'potential' at this point but it's tough to argue that optimism isn't unwarranted at this point.

As far as salary concerns go... I always have a hard time placing Brouwer's $4.5M in a lineup. That, and a lower Stajan salary answers those questions IMO.

Bennett-Jankowski-Lazar

These three should take it upon themselves to work out and practice as a trio all summer. Make themselves a line. It's in each other's best interest.

[lazypucker]

At least 2 of Bouma, Brouwer, and Stajan will remain after the expansion draft, could be all 3 if Vegas doesn't want to take on huge salaries. How can we fit everybody on the 4th line with the likes of Hathaway, F Hamilton, and potentially Versteeg (good if re-signed on the cheap) still around?

[Split98]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

At least 2 of Bouma, Brouwer, and Stajan will remain after the expansion draft, could be all 3 if Vegas doesn't want to take on huge salaries. How can we fit everybody on the 4th line with the likes of Hathaway, F Hamilton, and potentially Versteeg (good if re-signed on the cheap) still around?

Well no decision needs to be made next season does it?

Stajan and Backlund are up the same year and I don't think it it's unreasonable to think that Brouwer and/or Bouma are tradeable.

Versteeg we can sign for one season to have some stability in a player we known can play.

[JerryUnderscore]

This whole thread needs to slow down a bit.

Janko's having a great season in Stockton, but we probably shouldn't pencil him in as our third line centre quite yet.

Backlund isn't a third line centre by any metric (points, advanced stats, eye test, etc.). The only way you consider him a #3C is if you're pencilling in Bennett as your #2C. However, Bennett is still only 20 and learning the game.

Fortunately, Backlund still has one more year on his current contract. We have another full year to see if he can put up similar numbers. If he does it again next year, I'm more than comfortable giving him a 5 year deal. He just turned 28 this month, which means a five year deal would cover ages 29-34. He can continue to play #2C for the bulk of that contract as Bennett continues to learn the position. If in the last year (when Bennett is 25) he overtakes Backlund for that #2C spot, that's okay.

It's too soon to declare Janko a lock for centre, it's too soon to consider Bennett a bust at centre and it's took soon to suggest we should trade Backlund since we have no idea what his contract demands would even be.

[Tinordi]

Continuing this thread's topic to not talk about Jankowski...

I think you're dreaming if you think Backlund can be signed for anything south of 6 million.

Look up his comparable centremen. Dubinsky is getting paid 5.9, Bolland 5.5, Brassard 5, Zajac 5.75, Duchene 6, Staal 6, Plekanec 6 (!), Stepan 6.5, Kesler 6.875.

Here's a table breaking them down.

http://dobberhockey.com/frozenpool_c...-2017%3AR%3A99

Next to Kesler, Backlund's has had the best season of any of those guys.

So yeah, Backlund is going to be making more than 6 million if he's being compared to his peers.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Continuing this thread's topic to not talk about Jankowski...

I think you're dreaming if you think Backlund can be signed for anything south of 6 million.

Look up his comparable centremen. Dubinsky is getting paid 5.9, Bolland 5.5, Brassard 5, Zajac 5.75, Duchene 6, Staal 6, Plekanec 6 (!), Stepan 6.5, Kesler 6.875.

Here's a table breaking them down.

http://dobberhockey.com/frozenpool_c...-2017%3AR%3A99

Next to Kesler, Backlund's has had the best season of any of those guys.

So yeah, Backlund is going to be making more than 6 million if he's being compared to his peers.

Time will tell. Backlund is having a career season but next season could easily fall back closer to his career norm. This would be the worst time to enter any long time contract negotiations as that's why the team is saddled with Gio's long term cap hit which may be costly in four years. His trade value will be at an all time high for sure so if the team ever wanted to make a big move for a young skilled RW this would be the summer to do it. I don't think the team can fit him into their long term plans if he's going to be looking at a contract in the area of $5+ million for five years. You can't pay top dollars to your star players like Gio, Monahan, Gaudreau, Hamilton and keep giving raises to everyone on the roster. Something will have to give.

[Vinny01]

I absolutely love the way Backlund has played this year. He has been our best forward no doubt. I do wonder however if the organization should try and make a decision with him immediately after the season is over?

Table a 5x5 extension for him and if he doesn't take it then sell high and trade him for a long term #4D or a long term top 6 winger. I do think having Jankowski in the pipeline gives the Flames options moving forward with what they do with a player like Backlund (keep or trade) and Bennett (centre or wing)

[DJones]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

At least 2 of Bouma, Brouwer, and Stajan will remain after the expansion draft, could be all 3 if Vegas doesn't want to take on huge salaries. How can we fit everybody on the 4th line with the likes of Hathaway, F Hamilton, and potentially Versteeg (good if re-signed on the cheap) still around?

Versteeg and Chiasson are gone. Always just a stop gap. Brouwer holds onto Lazar's stop until he proves otherwise or vegas.

I still think the line to make is Tkachuk, Bennett, Jankowski.

Tkachuk shouldn't be on the top line just because he needs someone to watch his back and Johnny and Mony aren't that type of players. Backlund has done a great job this year in that regard.

I know people are saying to not get too excited but come on. I don't think we've ever had a prospect look as polished as Janko does in the AHL. Slotting him in on a stacked 3rd line doesn't seem outrageous.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by DJones

Versteeg and Chiasson are gone. Always just a stop gap. Brouwer holds onto Lazar's stop until he proves otherwise or vegas.

I still think the line to make is Tkachuk, Bennett, Jankowski.

Tkachuk shouldn't be on the top line just because he needs someone to watch his back and Johnny and Mony aren't that type of players. Backlund has done a great job this year in that regard.

I know people are saying to not get too excited but come on. I don't think we've ever had a prospect look as polished as Janko does in the AHL. Slotting him in on a stacked 3rd line doesn't seem outrageous.

I'm optimistic about Janko too, but it's hard to know what he'll be at the next level. Poirier was an all-star in his first AHL season and then...

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

This whole thread needs to slow down a bit.

Yeah, everyone take a nice long toke and relax.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Continuing this thread's topic to not talk about Jankowski...

I think you're dreaming if you think Backlund can be signed for anything south of 6 million.

Look up his comparable centremen. Dubinsky is getting paid 5.9, Bolland 5.5, Brassard 5, Zajac 5.75, Duchene 6, Staal 6, Plekanec 6 (!), Stepan 6.5, Kesler 6.875.

Here's a table breaking them down.

http://dobberhockey.com/frozenpool_c...-2017%3AR%3A99

Next to Kesler, Backlund's has had the best season of any of those guys.

So yeah, Backlund is going to be making more than 6 million if he's being compared to his peers.

I think you just made the point of NOT paying Backlund that kind of money. How many of those guys are worth that dough and how many of them would you consider a iffy or bad contract? Backlund is one of those guys that is really tough to gauge for a contract because his body of work isn't great and he has a history of injuries. I'd be hesitant to give him big scratch because of his lack of consistency and that injury history. I also expect Bennett to jump up and take 2nd line center role in the near future, and when that happens you'll be staring down another big contract up front. It's also pretty much a given that Tkachuk is going to get to a big salary sooner than later. Budget could get ugly fast. like we're complaining about Brouwer and what he makes, and he has a better track record than Backlund. What happens if you sign Backlund to a big salary and he pulls a Brouwer and regress s to his mean or has an underwhelming year? I hate seeing GMs negotiating with late bloomers coming off a career year. Thankfully we have another year to see if this is the baseline or an outlier.

[DJones]

We still have another year of Backlund where he will probably get used in a defensive role without Tkachuk.

I would be shocked if the aforementioned Tkachuk - Bennett - Jankowski aren't a significant upgrade on our 3rd line this year and see more TOI and opportunity. In all likelihood Backlund will be back to his normal 0.5 ppg and that should help with negotiations.

I'd love to get him at Kadri's contract. 6 years x 4.5M

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by New Era

I think you just made the point of NOT paying Backlund that kind of money. How many of those guys are worth that dough and how many of them would you consider a iffy or bad contract? Backlund is one of those guys that is really tough to gauge for a contract because his body of work isn't great and he has a history of injuries. I'd be hesitant to give him big scratch because of his lack of consistency and that injury history. I also expect Bennett to jump up and take 2nd line center role in the near future, and when that happens you'll be staring down another big contract up front. It's also pretty much a given that Tkachuk is going to get to a big salary sooner than later. Budget could get ugly fast. like we're complaining about Brouwer and what he makes, and he has a better track record than Backlund. What happens if you sign Backlund to a big salary and he pulls a Brouwer and regress s to his mean or has an underwhelming year? I hate seeing GMs negotiating with late bloomers coming off a career year. Thankfully we have another year to see if this is the baseline or an outlier.

Sure, this is assuming that Backlund keeps up this level of play and stays healthy. Two big assumptions.

If next season Backlund continues to be a 45-50 point center with monstrous defensive and possession numbers then he's signing for 6 million or more. Bottom line.

This talk of 5 million is out to lunch unless you're expecting a big correction in his play. He's a top 20 center in the league currently.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Sure, this is assuming that Backlund keeps up this level of play and stays healthy. Two big assumptions.

If next season Backlund continues to be a 45-50 point center with monstrous defensive and possession numbers then he's signing for 6 million or more. Bottom line.

This talk of 5 million is out to lunch unless you're expecting a big correction in his play. He's a top 20 center in the league currently.

He's also a big team player and seems very loyal to the Flames organisation. I'm not saying he'd take a huge discount to stay in Calgary, but I also don't see him cutting loose and signing with the highest bidder – unless the money on offer is ludicrous.

$5.5m AAV would be workable and not terribly far off the mark in my opinion. It fits the current salary structure, giving him less than the Captain and top scorers.

Also, Bennett has yet to earn the enormous contract New Era is fearful he'll be commanding as an RFA, so having an early-30s Backlund on the books for a few years won't be so painful. We'll likely have Jankowski & Bennett on affordable deals for the best part of the next 5 years. Tkachuk is looking like a guy we might have to budget for though.