Vasteras unhappy with Backlund... could quit/be cut

[SoCalFlamesFan]

http://translate.google.com/translat...45&sl=sv&tl=en

Original Swedish

http://hockeysverige.se/news_show_jv...tml?id=4858145

Interesting that he has to prove himself at the WJC or they may just cut him. Poll at the bottom asks where will he be playing in February. B) is Quad Cities.

Not a very optimistic story for Calgary's top prospect.

[toquester]

Originally Posted by NickYoung

http://translate.google.com/translat...45&sl=sv&tl=en

Original Swedish

http://hockeysverige.se/news_show_jv...tml?id=4858145

Interesting that he has to prove himself at the WJC or they may just cut him. Poll at the bottom asks where will he be playing in February. B) is Quad Cities.

Not a very optimistic story for Calgary's top prospect.

I think there has always been some problems between Backlund and the folks that run that team. Leaving them may be the best thing that could happen to him.

[PIMking]

I have said from the beginning of the year that he needs a year of na hockey either juniors or AHL to be really ready.

[Tron_fdc]

Can't he play in the WHL? I believe players are eligible until they are 20 yrs old.

[Metro Gnome]

Can't say Im happy to hear this. I was hoping backlund would step into the gap left by the Berglund departure. Instead, looks like he's gone the other way.

Kid face-planted during the pre-season here. For the first time since we picked him, my faith in his potential has wavered a tad.

[flamesrule14]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Can't he play in the WHL? I believe players are eligible until they are 20 yrs old.

He could. I believe Kelowna has his rights (someone can correct me on that). Definetly not a bad thing if he decides to come to NA to play in the Dub or with Quad Cities.

[Ronald Pagan]

Hopefully someone tells chris lindberg to sit down before reading this thread...

[chris lindberg]

Sit down because Mikael is not doing so well over there or sit down because of the excitement to the possibility of Darryl Sutter becoming more involved in his development and bringing Backlund over to North America sooner?

[MrMastodonFarm]

If he doesn't play well in a junior tournament, is home team will cut him?

Geez, what a farce.

Bring him over Sutter.

[dustygoon]

Something is not right.....why is he not performing very well for Vestaras? Berglund was top dog at this time last year on this very team. A year on and Backlund now the same age and type of potential as Berglund should also be an important player on that team at this level.

I am cheering for Backlund, but being objective, you have to wonder what the hell is going on with this kid.

[Eddie Bronze]

Instead of reading this stuff and speculating about his play or the direction he is headed in, let's wait a week, watch him at the world jr's and form an opinion based on that instead of some articles. Level of play alone doesn't always dictate playing time as I'm sure we are all aware, we have no real way of knowing what is going on there.

The Flames have done a pretty good job of developing young players as you can see with the impact on our roster this year. Some pretty good ones in the AHL right now as well. I'm sure Darryl's not going to let the situation get out of control. He handled the Ryder thing very well, I thought, and I'm sure he'll do the same here and help the kid out in whatever way necessary.

No worries.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Instead of reading this stuff and speculating about his play or the direction he is headed in, let's wait a week, watch him at the world jr's and form an opinion based on that instead of some articles. Level of play alone doesn't always dictate playing time as I'm sure we are all aware, we have no real way of knowing what is going on there.

The Flames have done a pretty good job of developing young players as you can see with the impact on our roster this year. Some pretty good ones in the AHL right now as well. I'm sure Darryl's not going to let the situation get out of control. He handled the Ryder thing very well, I thought, and I'm sure he'll do the same here and help the kid out in whatever way necessary.

No worries.

None of the players in our top 9 forwards were drafted by Sutter. In fact, Dion is the only impact player Sutter has drafted thus far.

I was high on Backlund and am shocked to hear this. However, he did have a good WJC but average numbers in Sweden. Darryl said on the radio last week he thinks Backlund will be ready next season but if things continue to go poorly perhaps he will need a year in the A.
________
Expert Insurance

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Something is not right.....why is he not performing very well for Vestaras? Berglund was top dog at this time last year on this very team. A year on and Backlund now the same age and type of potential as Berglund should also be an important player on that team at this level. .

Why?

Berglund's development kicked into an abnormally high gear in the 2 years following his draft, but that doesn't mean it should be expected to happen for every player. Dion Phaneuf did the same thing - he just ramped things up incredibly after he was drafted.

Players have to be allowed to develop at their own pace - its simply far too easy to get caught up with comparing two players and where they were at certain points in their career. Development is a marathon not a sprint.

Is this good news? No.

But we have no idea what the circumstances are surrounding this report and what it really means.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Why?

Berglund's development kicked into an abnormally high gear in the 2 years following his draft, but that doesn't mean it should be expected to happen for every player. Dion Phaneuf did the same thing - he just ramped things up incredibly after he was drafted.

Players have to be allowed to develop at their own pace - its simply far too easy to get caught up with comparing two players and where they were at certain points in their career. Development is a marathon not a sprint.

Is this good news? No.

But we have no idea what the circumstances are surrounding this report and what it really means.

Jiri...come on.....you see my point. No kidding development is a marathon and not a sprint. Backlund and Berglund are similar enough to warrant using Berglund as a comparison in terms of a level of expected contribution (same team, similar draft ratings, grew up playing with/against eachother, both highly touted, and similar point in their careers). From the first glance at this news, it seems that Backlund's performance on that team isn't in the same hemisphere as Berglund's was at that same age.

Sutter has set high expectations for Backlund....."he would lead the dub in scoring if he came over". Of his play at the WJC, Sutter says "he was as good as any 18 year old at the tournament" and "he was their best player against Canada" on a lineup that included Berglund....who as you say developed abnormally. There is no reason to expect more from Backlund at this point particularly when Berglund exists as a decent benchmark. So there must be something else going on. No way I am saying we need to rush his development or the like. After seeing how he performed in camp, he needs time to get some muscle and confidence first.

To be clear on my original point, when I say "what is wrong with this kid" I am saying what did he do that has mngt thinking along these lines. Something serious? Something innocuous or misconstrued? He is a kid playing with men....albeit a kid that has VERY high expectations of himself. Maybe there is a falling out. Who knows at this point. But my point is what has gone on that would lead team mngt to be at odds with a player like Backlund who should be an important player if given the right opportunity. Maybe a tempest in a tea cup......

By the way, you do know it is ok to question and be critical of the flames and their prospects once in a while. In all of the efforts around here by "regulars" to present an even keel point of view, sometimes it seems the only contrarian thoughts are those against other posters rather than having the odd critcal comment of the team/players. It doesn't lead you down the path of becoming one of the bipolar elements on this board if you cast a critical eye over the team once in a while.

[moon]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

By the way, you do know it is ok to question and be critical of the flames and their prospects once in a while. In all of the efforts around here by "regulars" to present an even keel point of view, sometimes it seems the only contrarian thoughts are those against other posters rather than having the odd critcal comment of the team/players. It doesn't lead you down the path of becoming one of the bipolar elements on this board if you cast a critical eye over the team once in a while.

Pointing out the fallacies in analyzing the development of two different players, one who seemed to develop against the norm by the way, is now seen as being critical of people who "cast a critical eye on the team"?

I may not always agree with Jiri all the time but I would hardly call him the "fan boy" type or someone who just calls out people with critical comments.

I am not sure why Berglund is the benchmark when there is plenty more examples of players from Sweden who did not develop right away and have gone on to have great careers.

Berglund seems to be an outlier rather than a benchmark that should be used to judge other players. Just because they played on the same team does not mean their development schedules should be the same.

Also, just because Backlund is not fitting into the team this year does not change the progress/play that he had in the past.

It appears to be a set back but way too early to read too much into the situation.

[jeremywilhelm]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Instead of reading this stuff and speculating about his play or the direction he is headed in, let's wait a week, watch him at the world jr's and form an opinion based on that instead of some articles. Level of play alone doesn't always dictate playing time as I'm sure we are all aware, we have no real way of knowing what is going on there.

The Flames have done a pretty good job of developing young players as you can see with the impact on our roster this year. Some pretty good ones in the AHL right now as well. I'm sure Darryl's not going to let the situation get out of control. He handled the Ryder thing very well, I thought, and I'm sure he'll do the same here and help the kid out in whatever way necessary.

No worries.

we only have to wait till friday, the exhibition between canada and sweden is on TSN.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Jiri...come on.....you see my point. No kidding development is a marathon and not a sprint. Backlund and Berglund are similar enough to warrant using Berglund as a comparison in terms of a level of expected contribution (same team, similar draft ratings, grew up playing with/against eachother, both highly touted, and similar point in their careers). From the first glance at this news, it seems that Backlund's performance on that team isn't in the same hemisphere as Berglund's was at that same age.

I agree it isn't because as noted Berglund went on an unreal development path that is not typical. Backlund is following a more typical path for someone drafted in his spot.

Originally Posted by dustygoon

By the way, you do know it is ok to question and be critical of the flames and their prospects once in a while. In all of the efforts around here by "regulars" to present an even keel point of view, sometimes it seems the only contrarian thoughts are those against other posters rather than having the odd critcal comment of the team/players. It doesn't lead you down the path of becoming one of the bipolar elements on this board if you cast a critical eye over the team once in a while.

Did I say it wasn't OK? You can present any viewpoint you want and I in turn can disagree with it. That's what a discussion board is. Or am I not permitted to disagree with someone who is critical of the Flames without getting this type of thing tossed in my face. I am critical of the Flames, but in general take a rationale look at things. I don't think I owe you or anyone an apology for that. That's where I fall on the wide range of opinions on this board.

Nowhere have I suggested your opinion isn't valid and I ask you to do the same. Argue the substance of what am I saying if you disagree.

People accuse me at times of not being critical of the Flames. The reality is that I think I just have tempered expectations. For instance with Backlund people got caught up in some of Sutter's comments (which is his own fault I suppose) and started placing unrealistic expectations for where he should be right now.

Same thing happened with Leland Irving and then when he didn't perform at the same level in his 2nd year people paniced, and now others are wondering why Steve Mason in the NHL and Irving isn't. Meanwhile Irving is improving at a typical pace, and that's fine with me.

[jeremywilhelm]

Yeah, I like to feel im the same way. I take everything said by Sutter and the coaching staff, and especially the media, with a grain of salt because, really, they are selling the team to the fans. And you cant build hype without a little whitewashing of the information.

I find alot of fans, especially when the team is doing well, believe everything they read. And when we are losing, are overly critical because now they have such insanely high hopes from the highs, they cant deal with the lows.

forgive my run-on sentences and punctuation...

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by jeremywilhelm

Yeah, I like to feel im the same way. I take everything said by Sutter and the coaching staff, and especially the media, with a grain of salt because, really, they are selling the team to the fans. And you cant build hype without a little whitewashing of the information.
.

I think in the case of Sutter he says stuff as a message to players more than to sell the team to the fans. In the case of Backlund maybe he's trying to build the kid's confidence?

I recall a few years back (2?) he remarked something along the lines that the Flames had the best center prospects in the NHL. (and keep in mind this was before he had even drafted Backlund). A comment well over the line of being silly and venturing into "whatchoo talkin' 'bout Willis" territory.

So yeah - strange stuff comes out of Darryl's mouth from time to time.

[icarus]

You just know Sutter is salivating... we know how he loves to have all his guys playing in North America where possible and this just means he is one step closer to having Backlund nearby to keep tabs on. As Toquester said, this may not be a bad thing and there is no need to question Backlund's talent.