Who do you HOPE Seattle takes in the expansion draft.

[dissentowner]

Backlund to me is the choice. So streaky. He spends a half a season looking like a 4th line player and then the other half looking like a 1st line C. This is a pattern with him, stretches of poor play followed by unreal play. Brutal in the Colorado series, great in the Jets series, mediocre in the Dallas series. For what he makes and given his age this is my obvious choice.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yikes ... what in your eyes did he do?

I think Giordano is a guy that has a lot of skill, but a good part of it comes from his work ethic and refusing to let down. When he gets to the playoffs he's matched in terms of effort by everyone on the ice and with that his game appears to slide.

But the guy shows up. On the ice, in the room, and after if things don't go well.

Not sure you're vitriol is well placed.

His contract was always going to be 2 good years, two average years, and two declining years. The fact that he won a Norris in year three, and by all measures was still a top pairing defenseman in year four is a huge bonus.

Let's be honest here. Even in the regular season he is one of the main reasons why we were on a bubble to make the playoffs. His offensive touch went kaput this year. I'm sure there are advanced stats but he might have been the worst point man in NHL history on a 1st unit powerplay. A pp that only had 1 defenceman on the point. He had 2 goals in like 40 games and both of those were the other team's defencemen deflecting it in on their own net.

So now that we are past his 2 good years, 2 average year isn't it a good time to pitch him?

and it's mind boggling that he has ZERO playoff series win with him as captain. The only win we had when he was injured, had Wideman, Russell and Engelland playing better than Gio ever did in the playoffs. How many free passes does he get?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Backlund to me is the choice. So streaky. He spends a half a season looking like a 4th line player and then the other half looking like a 1st line C. This is a pattern with him, stretches of poor play followed by unreal play. Brutal in the Colorado series, great in the Jets series, mediocre in the Dallas series. For what he makes and given his age this is my obvious choice.

It really isn't. I cannot remember a time within the last four years when Backlund played as poorly as he did in the first two months of the 2019–20 season. I can pretty well guarantee that if Backlund is exposed, the Flames will lose him, and I don't see how that will be beneficial without an adequate replacement in place.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Let's be honest here. Even in the regular season he is one of the main reasons why we were on a bubble to make the playoffs. His offensive touch went kaput this year. I'm sure there are advanced stats but he might have been the worst point man in NHL history on a 1st unit powerplay. A pp that only had 1 defenceman on the point. He had 2 goals in like 40 games and both of those were the other team's defencemen deflecting it in on their own net.

So now that we are past his 2 good years, 2 average year isn't it a good time to pitch him?

and it's mind boggling that he has ZERO playoff series win with him as captain. The only win we had when he was injured, had Wideman, Russell and Engelland playing better than Gio ever did in the playoffs. How many free passes does he get?

I don't like Giordano on the powerplay, but his five on five numbers last year were solid.

He's a top pairing defenseman by almost any measure.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It really isn't. I cannot remember a time within the last four years when Backlund played as poorly as he did in the first two months of the 2019–20 season. I can pretty well guarantee that if Backlund is exposed, the Flames will lose him, and I don't see how that will be beneficial without an adequate replacement in place.

That is easy, go back one year. Half a year of great play, half a year of mediocre.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Backlund to me is the choice. So streaky.

Pretty much every hockey player is streaky.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Backlund to me is the choice. So streaky. He spends a half a season looking like a 4th line player and then the other half looking like a 1st line C. This is a pattern with him, stretches of poor play followed by unreal play. Brutal in the Colorado series, great in the Jets series, mediocre in the Dallas series. For what he makes and given his age this is my obvious choice.

Unless we are getting ROR, Couturier, Danault, Bergeron, Crosby in a trade then it doesn’t make sense to give up on one of the best 2-way centers in the game.

[Dan403]

The Backlund hate is so dumb.

Some people have no sense of what it takes to win games and to win series.

Every team that wins a cup has players like Backlund.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Dan403

The Backlund hate is so dumb.

Some people have no sense of what it takes to win games and to win series.

Every team that wins a cup has players like Backlund.

Except for the team that has Backlund. That team can't even get past the first round lol

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Except for the team that has Backlund. That team can't even get past the first round lol

You’re looking at the wrong center, if we’re blaming centers. Hint: the center to blame is #23.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It really isn't. I cannot remember a time within the last four years when Backlund played as poorly as he did in the first two months of the 2019–20 season. I can pretty well guarantee that if Backlund is exposed, the Flames will lose him, and I don't see how that will be beneficial without an adequate replacement in place.

I think the general consensus with this idea is Lindholm would take his spot:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane, to my eye, was a very good line when the Backlund at wing experiment was going on.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Dan403

The Backlund hate is so dumb.

Some people have no sense of what it takes to win games and to win series.

Every team that wins a cup has players like Backlund.

He was our worst player in the Avalanche series and it was not close. That was the worst showing by him in his career. Backlund is not consistent enough to be that player that plays a key role in a championship win.

[MrMike]

With my luck it will be whoever’s name I put on my new Blasty jersey.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

He was our worst player in the Avalanche series and it was not close. That was the worst showing by him in his career. Backlund is not consistent enough to be that player that plays a key role in a championship win.

It's stuff like this that makes me happy you aren't GM.

Backlund is not the reason this team won't compete for a championship.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I think the general consensus with this idea is Lindholm would take his spot:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane, to my eye, was a very good line when the Backlund at wing experiment was going on.

I really like Lindholm, but I don't think he is nearly as good in that role as is Backlund.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Let's be honest here. Even in the regular season he is one of the main reasons why we were on a bubble to make the playoffs. His offensive touch went kaput this year. I'm sure there are advanced stats but he might have been the worst point man in NHL history on a 1st unit powerplay. A pp that only had 1 defenceman on the point. He had 2 goals in like 40 games and both of those were the other team's defencemen deflecting it in on their own net.

So now that we are past his 2 good years, 2 average year isn't it a good time to pitch him?

and it's mind boggling that he has ZERO playoff series win with him as captain. The only win we had when he was injured, had Wideman, Russell and Engelland playing better than Gio ever did in the playoffs. How many free passes does he get?

Let's be honest here. You take Gio off the roster and replace him with somebody better (20-30 dmen in the world) and the Flames are better. Take him off the roster and try to replace him internally or with someone like Tanev... fans will be wishing for the bubble days again.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

People wanting to lose Giordano are nuts. He is absolutely worth a first at the deadline to a contender, if the Flames aren't one.

As for who they should want to lose, I suspect it will probably be Tanev with that contract, but I guess we'll have a whole year to find out.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

People wanting to lose Giordano are nuts. He is absolutely worth a first at the deadline to a contender, if the Flames aren't one.

As for who they should want to lose, I suspect it will probably be Tanev with that contract, but I guess we'll have a whole year to find out.

I might have agreed before the shortened season. Have a feeling come deadline that prices aren’t going to be that high this year. I just can’t see any team taking on $6.8 million without sending substantial money back.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I really like Lindholm, but I don't think he is nearly as good in that role as is Backlund.

But how long will Backlund continue to be a top 6 shut down center?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

It's stuff like this that makes me happy you aren't GM.

Backlund is not the reason this team won't compete for a championship.

He certainly is not the reason we will.