Can Ryan take on Backlund’s role; is Backlund who we trade?

[Geeoff]

I'd only trade Backlund for an improvement on Backlund

[GreenLantern2814]

No and no.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

No and no.

Was just going to say the exact same thing.


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[Freeway]

The Flames likely shelled out the term and dollars they did for Backlund because it was felt his skillset couldn't easily be reproduced, either through one player or in the aggregate.

[the2bears]

There ur Chris O'Sullivan.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by blender

To follow up Scorpion, Backlund is heinously underrated on this forum. Among hockey people in the NHL I'm confident he is well-regarded.

If he was on offer the return would be quite good.

Flat out, most of the players on the team are underrated on this forum. The hyper-critical reality of fandom always blasts their home players, well, at least here in Calgary they do.

We’ve thrown every player on the roster under the bus, except for Tkachuk - but once he starts getting paid a fair wage, he’ll be getting slammed just like everyone else.

Maybe it has something to do with the general awful lack of success the organization has had for most of our lives, but there don’t seem to be a lot of people openly acknowledging just how good this team was last season - and that part of team development is getting to that stage of consistently being that good because the playoffs are an absolute crap shoot and to have success you just need to consistently qualify.

[blender]

True words ComixZone, true words. I'd be tempted to blame it on the internet as I'm old enough to remember a time before it was the place to be, but sadly it is not the case. I recall the how common it was to hear people refer to them as the "Shames" and running Vernon down. This when the Flames were a top team in the league every year. Some things will never change.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Flat out, most of the players on the team are underrated on this forum.

Until we fantasize trades, then it's the complete opposite.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

We could always compromise on this idea, and not trade Backlund

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Yeah, if you look at Jankowski’s ice time, line mates and utilization, he has damn fine results. He got over 15 minutes of ice time just 14 times, and got under 10 minutes 14 times as well.

A 3/4 line centre with that little ice time, that gets 14 goals and 32 points, and has been slowly but steadily developing.. well, that is a valuable asset

I think a lot of people forget what most bottom 6 players actually do

I liked this post a lot. Enough so that I decided to do some research.

Here's a "Did you Know" for the forum.

Jankowski had the 3rd most points of any player in the league who played less than 13 minutes on average last year. The only players with more than his 32 were Bjorkstrand with 36 and Duclair with 33 (Pominville had 31 in 6 less games as well).

That seems like a pretty good stat. I kind of felt like Jankowski had a bit of a disappointing season, but in that context he actually had a really good season.

[DoubleF]

Push come to shove, I'd trade Ryan over Backlund for the cap space:

Monahan
Lindholm
Backlund

That's a pretty solid top 9 backbone and I think it's superior to Monahan, Lindholm, Ryan.

[GioforPM]

One mistake people make a lot is thinking lower rank success means the player should get a higher spot/more ice time. Ryan excelled last year where he was. That doesn't mean he should take Backlund's spot. It probably means he was used perfectly last year by Peters.

[Flash Walken]

Ryan cantt take Backlunds minutes but I think Lindholm can.

I posted this in a different thread:

Moving backlund for a low cost piece, shifting lindholm to #2 c, keeping brodie and frolik and running RW by committee might be the best way to fit tkachuk in and balance the lines.

Probably a moot point as Backlund likely doesn't waive so why even ask him, but maybe a move to Columbus for a player like Bjorkstrand.

Saves the flames just shy of 3 mil which is enough to sign Tkachuk and Mangiapane.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Bjorkstrand
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Frolik/Mangiapane/Lucic
Bennett - Ryan - Frolik/Mangiapane/Lucic
Quine/Czar - Dube/Janko - Lucic/Frolik

Something like that

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Ryan cantt take Backlunds minutes but I think Lindholm can.

I posted this in a different thread:

Moving backlund for a low cost piece, shifting lindholm to #2 c, keeping brodie and frolik and running RW by committee might be the best way to fit tkachuk in and balance the lines.

Probably a moot point as Backlund likely doesn't waive so why even ask him, but maybe a move to Columbus for a player like Bjorkstrand.

Saves the flames just shy of 3 mil which is enough to sign Tkachuk and Mangiapane.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Bjorkstrand
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Frolik/Mangiapane/Lucic
Bennett - Ryan - Frolik/Mangiapane/Lucic
Quine/Czar - Dube/Janko - Lucic/Frolik

Something like that

I'd be wary of trading Backlund for a top 6 winger. I think we run into the same issues as a few years ago in the the sense that our lines will be a wreck if we have an injury to one of our centres. Backlund is fine playing long term at 2C. I don't think I have the same confidence in Ryan playing 2C if one of Lindholm or Monahan is injured for a significant duration.

I think it's safer to move a player down the depth chart as he'd be a know quantity if moved back up, rather than to move a player up the depth chart as he's an unknown quantity higher up the depth chart. As such, I'd try to move Ryan for futures to unlock that same 3 mil in cap space.

[browna]

In a perfect situation, Backlund should be fighting for a 2c position. He’s not though. As much as Peters favours Ryan in many situations, as 2c it’s not there. But Jankowski isn’t pushing Backlund, and Backlund and Frolik have played well together. Tkachuk too, though last year they didn’t all seem on the same page.

The second line, too, needs to provide reliable scoring support to the top line. The 2c didn’t at the end of the season, nor playoffs, so in the next couple years, or sooner, the second line needs to look a lot different then last year. Treliving would’ve started that transformation last Feb with Zucker, but as of today it’s the same ones they trotted out last year. Frolik is gone at latest next Summer. Does Bennett step up? Etc etc.

Backlund not going anywhere right away, but his contract details will be reason for pause not too far down the road. 5 years at over $5m..if he does move down to 3c then he’s overpaid.

[Macho0978]

Other than Giordano, the Flames are loaded with players still in their prime or have yet to enter their prime. As painful as this summer has been, the Flames moving forward the next 2 years are is a great position to add to this roster the next 2 summers.

IMO the only plays here are to move out contracts to present a challenge to keeping the roster together and adding next summer. Frolik, Brodie, Jankowski, and Hamonic are players who could move and be replaced within. All 4 are free agents next summer and all are UFA's except Jankowski who will be 26 before the start of next season. Jankowski will become an expensive RFA for what he does and less valuable to sign to a short term deal due to his age. These are the only players we should look to move

[sempuki]

No.

Paging Flash Walken for a flash walkby.

[Sandman]

If you look at the fancy stats after each game, Backs and Chucky consistently have the team high in Corsi%, with the lion's share of defensive zone starts. I think it's safe to say that Backlund is criminally underrated here...

[kehatch]

Anyone can be traded if it makes the team better. But it is tough to envision any scenario where trading Backlund makes the team better.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by browna

Backlund not going anywhere right away, but his contract details will be reason for pause not too far down the road. 5 years at over $5m..if he does move down to 3c then he’s overpaid.

I agree that it would be great to expand the Flames C depth. Jankowski is good on the PK, but has been underwhelming 5 on 5. Lindholm was supposed to be the add, but Peter's likes him on the wing. Then Kadri was supposed to be it, but that deal fell through. Hopefully Jankowski can take a step forward, Dube develops quickly, or Treliving manages another pick-up at C.

I disagree that Backlund would be overpaid as a 3C though. Legitimate shutdown 3Cs are incredibly valuable and definitely worth 5M. Especially as the cap continues to rise.