Is it time to trade Mikael Backlund?

[shogged]

I'm glad some of you aren't in charge of the rebuild. Backlund is 24 and the flames have nothing but time. His trade value is less than his potential. He just needs a clearly defined role and some benchmarks for his progress towards that goal. Reevaluate this summer.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

With Knight coming up, that's actually a good thing. Shift Backlund to the wing as Knight is better with the faceoffs and you have 2/3rds of a shut down 3rd line that can chip in offensively from time to time. Plus if Knight gets waived on an important faceoff, you have Backlund there who isn't terrible in his own right.

I don't think Backlund is tough enough to play the wing. He gets knocked off the puck way too easily. I keep seeing visions of Backlund continually being creamed against the boards and by the end of the game he's just a pile of red jello lying on the ice.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Think we could get back one of those 4th round, or better, draft pics that we've traded away? Do we need an actual body?

As bad as I think he is I would think you should be able to get a 3rd round pick at least. Or maybe a roster player like a good 4rth liner or 3rd pairing defenseman.

A trade to another team would probably do him good. But he was just resigned this summer.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by shogged

I'm glad some of you aren't in charge of the rebuild. Backlund is 24 and the flames have nothing but time. His trade value is less than his potential. He just needs a clearly defined role and some benchmarks for his progress towards that goal. Reevaluate this summer.

He was told going into this year that this was a make or break season for him. So far I haven't seen any change in him from what he showed the previous 3 seasons. I can only suspect that the longer he plays for us the less ice time he'll get and the less impressive he'll look.

When your stock is dropping in value, sometimes its best to cut your losses and sell it for what you can.... before it drops even further.

[Itse]

Sure, why not trade him. He doesn't seem to be going anywhere, he's kind of redundant now that Colborne can take that 3rd line center role, we could use a spot for Knight and we still have a depth option in Blair Jones if that fails.

Of course you'd need to find a taker for Backlund. An okay but not very physical depth center on a one-way contract until 2015 isn't exactly a hot item, unless you find someone who believes in his potential. No way to know how that goes.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

Without agree or disagreeing with trading Backs... Is there a Center for Center swap with a team available. Another struggling Center for ours?... Backlund seems off again... But trading him at the deadline or draft might be the best and to give him some more time.

We aren't in win now mode anyways

David Desharnais maybe? 1 point in 17 games with 15 minutes of ice time.

Desharnais is 27 though. I thought he was younger before looking it up. I'd rather have Backlund still.

[djsFlames]

Backlund showed in Colorado what he's capable of being.

Either you keep him and try to extract the potential that is there, or trade him for spare parts knowing full well you won't get near the same potential you might have with Backlund someday. Unless of course, we're talking draft picks.. but a 3rd is probably all you could hope for.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't see the point of trading Backlund really.

Also, why would you? Is he:

1) A part of the problem?
2) Hate to use it, but "post-apex" and will be too old by the time Calgary is done with their rebuild?

He isn't very offensive, outside of a few flashes of brilliance now and then, but he is a puck-possession hound out there. Yes, people laugh at CORSI stats, but the last time someone posted up his CORSI numbers, they were pretty damn good. He does a lot of little things that help you win games, has speed to burn and a non-stop motor.

I don't see teams lining up to offer up value for Backlund at this point, and I don't see why he would need to be traded. Like others have stated already, Stajan is first off the roster. Backlund can be converted to wing if Knight beats him out (which I don't think he would for at least a couple of seasons) and Backlund could very well improve, even if it was just his faceoff abilities.

Also, with better centers on the team being better at faceoffs, wouldn't it be logical that they would all get a bit better in practice since they are up against better faceoff guys? I would think this would rub off a bit on Backlund.

If a team offers up an overpayment for Backlund, then sure. Really, nobody is untouchable on the team if another is offering a severe overpayment. I just don't think you will get an offer worth of value, and Backlund is a guy that you simply don't HAVE to move to make room for anyone.

[FlamesAddiction]

As long as no one expect a top 6 forward, I think Backlund is fine.

[bettman]

I hear they have tried to trade Backlund in the past with no takers.

[themedicineman]

I think Backlund had a great game playing with Cammy and Hudler against the Avs. No idea why that line would be broken up for last nights game with how good they played. It's frustrating watching these flashes followed up by him getting demoted to the third and then the fourth line for the next two games.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by bettman

I hear they have tried to trade Backlund in the past with no takers.

ummm, source?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

That was clear years ago.

BUT, he can be a very good #3 center. Think Lombardi or even Stajan.

He is fighting for his time against Colborne IMO. They are both meh, so I would defer to Colborne's size.

Mind you he is a cheap warm body to fill a roster spot. So I would keep him. Play him on the wing on the 3rd line just in case the 3c gets waived from the circle on important draws.

[LouCypher]

I like a lot of what he brings, I'm not sure where his potential will take him. In many ways he looks to be someone who understands what he needs to do to take his game up to another level but it still comes in flashes and finding a steady role on any line just hasn't happened. Still worth taking the time at least for this year to see if he gets fully on track.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Let's not trade any of our NHL centers until closer to the trade deadline. We finally have four again.

[CliffFletcher]

No particular need to trade him (I doubt he'd return more than a late 2nd anyway), but at this point what you see is what you get. I really doubt the guy is going to tap into a wellspring of offensive ability at this stage.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

ummm, source?

If I recall correctly "Bettman" is in the media.

[Brewmaster]

The rumoured trade of Backlund for Turris from two years ago would have been a steal in hindsight.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Rerun

So far this season he's played 17 games and has 2 goals and 4 assists.

... which puts him 5th amoungst fowards in scoring (2nd amoungst centers) while being 9th in average TOI. He's a good young legitimate NHL player, that's something the Flames should be acquiring not moving out. Even if he never makes a significant breakout offensively he's still a Bolland type quality player... that's nothing to sneeze at.

[Psytic]

http://www.arcticicehockey.com/2010/...-game-peak-age

Hes got a year or two still If he ever breaks out.