Reports: Backlund to play for Kelowna after WJHC - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sureLoss · 01-05-2009, 02:49 PM

apparently been said on swedish TV. The commentators were quoting someone within the Flames Organization

Jetsfan · 01-05-2009, 06:07 PM

On TSN Sportscentre of the Canada/Russia game Bob Mackenzie said that Backlund was going to play in Kelowna after the WJHC.

Caged Great · 01-05-2009, 06:10 PM

Fata

Ziggy Lidstrom · 01-07-2009, 01:44 PM

Saw the sportsnet story regarding it. Backlund's quote and rationale was the Allsvenskan plays eleven more games to the Dub's thirty-five.

I like the move, it is a great way to monitor his developement and challenge him with some of the most competitive junior hockey on the planet.

PS, won't he end up playing with Jamie Benn??? Perhaps, dynamic chemistry will develope between the two.

Go Kelowna Go, but not at the expense of the hitmen.

PIMking · 01-07-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Saw the sportsnet story regarding it. Backlund's quote and rationale was the Allsvenskan plays eleven more games to the Dub's thirty-five.

I like the move, it is a great way to monitor his developement and challenge him with some of the most competitive junior hockey on the planet.

PS, won't he end up playing with Jamie Benn??? Perhaps, dynamic chemistry will develope between the two.

Go Kelowna Go, but not at the expense of the hitmen.

Are the hitmen still owned by Brett the hitman Hart?

FlamesAddiction · 01-07-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIMking

Are the hitmen still owned by Brett the hitman Hart?

I think they are owned by the same ownership group as the Flames, but the team name is an homage to Brett Hart.

MrMastodonFarm · 01-07-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIMking

Are the hitmen still owned by Brett the hitman Hart?

Just to expand on what was said above...

The Hitmen were originally owned by a group that consisted of Brett Hart, Theo Fluery, and Joe Sakic. They were sold to the Flames ownership group in 1997, and been owned by them ever since. The Flames kept the name Hitmen.

Swervin · 01-07-2009, 02:35 PM

There was a meeting with Ken King last night before the San Jose game, King confirmed the following ...
Backlund will play for Kelowna so we can keep an eye on him.
There will be a new arena by 2014 in DT Calgary.
The organization is financially stable and because of the $$ was so high they saved over $10 mill (enough for a good 1st liner).
Kipper is a workhorse "that plays better the more he plays".

And so on and so on....

STeeLy · 01-07-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Just to expand on what was said above...

The Hitmen were originally owned by a group that consisted of Brett Hart, Theo Fluery, and Joe Sakic.

Joe Sakic?

Color me surprised.

JiriHrdina · 01-07-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swervin

There was a meeting with Ken King last night before the San Jose game, King confirmed the following ...
Backlund will play for Kelowna so we can keep an eye on him.
There will be a new arena by 2014 in DT Calgary.
The organization is financially stable and because of the $$ was so high they saved over $10 mill (enough for a good 1st liner).
Kipper is a workhorse "that plays better the more he plays".

And so on and so on....

Thanks for this.

By DT did he mean the Stampede Grounds? I assume so as I have no idea where else they would plunk it down.

Phanuthier · 01-07-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Joe Sakic?

Color me surprised.

yeah Sakic and Fleury were good friends, I think they owned a recreation property by each other too for a while (?)

PIMking · 01-07-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Just to expand on what was said above...

The Hitmen were originally owned by a group that consisted of Brett Hart, Theo Fluery, and Joe Sakic. They were sold to the Flames ownership group in 1997, and been owned by them ever since. The Flames kept the name Hitmen.

I loved brett hart when I used to watch wrestling.

mikey_the_redneck · 01-07-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

yeah Sakic and Fleury were good friends, I think they owned a recreation property by each other too for a while (?)

Talk about an odd couple............the bad boy Fleury hanging out with the golden boy of the NHL Joe Sakic!

Patrick · 01-07-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Talk about an odd couple............the bad boy Fleury hanging out with the golden boy of the NHL Joe Sakic!

Believe they played together in junior.

STeeLy · 01-07-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

Believe they played together in junior.

If by Junior, you mean the dub, then no... Sakic was in Swift Current and Fleury was in Moose Jaw.

Team Canada maybe?

Phanuthier · 01-07-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STeeLy

If by Junior, you mean the dub, then no... Sakic was in Swift Current and Fleury was in Moose Jaw.

Team Canada maybe?

I think they played together in the WJC, they were both involved in the 1987 IIRC.

dobbles · 01-08-2009, 08:13 PM

the grantham thread kinda morphed into this topic, but i wanted to ask it here anyways.

what are the advantages of backlund playing in the whl instead of the ahl? is it not better for him to be playing against better competition, playing with more talented teammates, and playing with possible future calgary teammates?

moon · 01-08-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobbles

the grantham thread kinda morphed into this topic, but i wanted to ask it here anyways.

what are the advantages of backlund playing in the whl instead of the ahl? is it not better for him to be playing against better competition, playing with more talented teammates, and playing with possible future calgary teammates?

Considering that I am one that is advocating that he goes to the WHL I will respond with my thoughts.

Much better for him to play against his peers when he is still 19. He is not fully physically ready to compete and still has areas of his game that will be much easier to work on at the WHL level.

His opportunity to develop would be much greater at the WHL level where he would be placed in a top 6 role and able to be a force in every aspect of the game as one of the better players, not only on his team but in the league.

In the AHL he would really struggle to compete on the ice and would likely be unable to fill a top 6 role right away, if at all during this season.

The WHL is much better suited for him to adapt to the NA game and to NA life in general. As much as many teams use the AHL to develop players that is only part of the goal of the league and for players that are 19 and for the most part 20, the WHL is a much better league for development.

Basically no reason to send him to the AHL to struggle both on and off the ice when he can go to Kelowna and have a much better transition to the NA game.

Also, how many "future" teammates is he really playing with in QC? 2-5 max? and it isn't like the WHL is full of bums as teammates and opponents either.

dobbles · 01-08-2009, 09:19 PM

thanks for the response. hopefully my question didnt come off snarky or arrogant. as a typical uninformed american, i just dont know enough about the dub to know if it is a more advantageous place.

but judging by his play tonight, he could probably get some solid minutes down here. we can use anyone with offensive abilities!

koop · 01-08-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobbles

thanks for the response. hopefully my question didnt come off snarky or arrogant. as a typical uninformed american, i just dont know enough about the dub to know if it is a more advantageous place.

but judging by his play tonight, he could probably get some solid minutes down here. we can use anyone with offensive abilities!

I'm not really an expert on either the WHL or the AHL, but the other important thing is his contract status. Even if both leagues were equal in terms of being beneficial for his development (I have no clue either way) the WHL would be preferred, because a year in the AHL would be a year off his entry level contract, which wouldn't be ideal.