[News] Zetterberg out of World Cup, Backlund replaces!

[bax]

This is awesome news. Nobody deserves this more than Backlund and you just know he is going to be pumped about representing his country. Hopefully he has a good showing and the confidence helps him here in Calgary

[RyZ]

If nothing else it will be great to see some guys like Jankowski get more time in pre-season games with another C pretty much away for training camp.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Tomas

Not for us from Sweden... But it will be fun to watch Backlund and I think his season will benefit from this!

Zetterberg isn't the same player he used to be. I was never really high on the guy as he always seemed like the complimentary player on Detroit.

Last year he had 3 more points and 12 fewer goals than Backlund. He was a -15 versus Backlund's +10 with Zetterberg playing on a playoff team.

At worst I see this as a lateral movement for Sweden, not a step down.

Also, Backlund did play 82 games last season so hopefully he can shake the injury prone label. He seemed to just have freak injuries with his hands.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Wait, what's with all of the positive comments? I thought with Giordano and Brodie being left out, everyone felt that the less Flames the better......



I'm happy Backlund is going, he seems very excited.

[locsofblu]

Congrats. Hope he doesn't get hurt before training camp again though.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

At worst I see this as a lateral movement for Sweden, not a step down.

Yeah I'm going to go ahead and just say it:

Since as far back as 2014 Backlund has been a better player than Zetterberg.

[1qqaaz]

I just hope Backlund doesn't get injured. Too many times we've seen him get injured at the beginning of the season.

But good for him, I think he should have been on the team in the first place.

[Bourque's Twin]

Gaudreau, Monahan, Jokipakka, Frolik, and Backlund are all at WC now.

I think it'll be good experience for all of them, especially Jokipakka.

[MissTeeks]

Now he's going to get injured for sure!

[Vulcan]

Backlund always seems to do well playing for Sweden. It will add a little more interest for me.

[jaikorven]

Well deserved and hopefully no injury happens. If all goes well, I think he will have a better NHL season for it as stated by others already.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Gaudreau, Monahan, Jokipakka, Frolik, and Backlund are all at WC now.

I think it'll be good experience for all of them, especially Jokipakka.

Gio, Brodie and Hamilton are at the next World Cup, I'd put money on it.