Is it time to trade Mikael Backlund?

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by FBI

If we have a cup contending team in 5 years, which player do you think would be around, Stajan or Backlund?

Neither.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I disagree. The rookies will learn a lot more with Stajan as a team mate than they ever will with Backlund. IMO, Backs has nothing to offer to the developing rookies and the Flames overall, that cannot be found elsewhere with more upside potential.

Upside potential.... that's what I see it coming down to. IMO Backs has either none or very little left and frankly there are players in the system who I believe deserve a chance to be here and have tons of potential..

After all, this is a rebuild. Lets give these players a chance.... especially this first year, which is likely to be the worst year (team performance wise).

24-year-old former 1st round pick, finally starting to play well but not getting stats results on a line with McGrattan & Jackman FFS, and you think having Stajan around is better for a rebuild. Matt Stajan. Seriously. You actually think that, having seen both these players on the ice for the last 3 years? What are these youngsters going to learn from Stajan? How to be mediocre at faceoffs? How to score at .5 PPG despite prime icetime? How to skate frustratingly slowly?

Backlund isn't around to develop rookies; he's around to be their teammate. The guy plays with heart, works his arse off out there & has the skillset (speed, size & IQ) to be a player. He is nowhere near his 'ceiling'. There is no reason to believe he cannot improve. Stajan is having his 'best' season as a Flame, and he's terrible. He might get a decent trade return because his contract is, for this season only, really appealing to a team that needs to pay to the cap but spend less money. Make no mistake: Backs is one of our most valuable assets. Stajan is worth next to nothing.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Forward Advanced Stat Numbers here:

Offensive zone starts:
Backlund: 40.4% Only Giordano and Brodie have lower starts.
Stajan is at 58%.

Offensive zone finishes:
Backlund: 50%. 9.6% increase in the positive direction.
Stajan: 42.6%. 15.4% decrease.

The only forward on the team with a higher difference in the positive direction is Cammalleri with a positive gain of 11.6% - and he starts at 51.5% offensive zone starts.

Backlund does help in the puck possession aspect of the game thus far. Faceoffs he is terrible at - though I would imagine it is something he can really work on and should improve on. Offensively he leaves much to be desired, but again he is young and has shown flashes of it.

There is no 'need' to move him as far as I can see. Even if gets caught up in the numbers game and other centers surpass him, move him to the wing. He isn't being a detriment to the team, is he? His value is not at an all-time high (quite the opposite). He isn't costing someone else a roster spot. He isn't a liability. He isn't a high cap hit. I just don't see any problem with seeing how he continues to develop.

Backlund is being buried according to his offensive zone starts. Believe in advanced stats or not, but something as simple as 'Backlund is being buried' can be adequately surmised by looking at where Backlund's average zone start is, and where Backlund's average zone end is. You can use advanced stats to sometimes prove and disprove the same point at times, but when you see a player's zone start as the lowest on the team (for forwards) and having the second most positive difference, that is a tough stat to disprove with your 'eyes'. There may be other facets of Backlund's game people don't like (and rightfully so), but he is being buried out there, and he is demonstrably having a positive effect on this team at the moment.

Whether he fits the team moving forward or not is the debate, but again.. why the rush to move him now?

[Itse]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

24-year-old former 1st round pick, finally starting to play well but not getting stats results on a line with McGrattan & Jackman FFS.

Or on a line with Cammalleri and Hudler, or Glencross and Jones.

Please check here:
http://www.leftwinglock.com/players/...KLUND+MIKAEL#A

He is nowhere near his 'ceiling'.

Well, that is really the meat of it. I don't think his ceiling is that high. You do.

No stat can't answer that decisively. Time will tell how it goes.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Itse

Or on a line with Cammalleri and Hudler, or Glencross and Jones.

Please check here:
http://www.leftwinglock.com/players/...KLUND+MIKAEL#A

Well, that is really the meat of it. I don't think his ceiling is that high. You do.

No stat can't answer that decisively. Time will tell how it goes.

Against Colorado, on a line with Cammy & Hudler, he was fantastic & created both our goals. The next game he was back on the 4th line with 10 mins of icetime. When we were modestly successful to start the season Backlund was playing top 6 minutes & Stajan was injured. You don't even need stats to see these things. Watching the actual hockey games does the trick.

I know I see potential in Backlund which hasn't been realised, based on his playing style and ability. The way he plays is much more important than his stats line. I believe, given time, his work ethic & style of play will achieve results for this team. Even if it doesn't come to fruition it's worth a gamble because he's still young.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Forward Advanced Stat Numbers here:

Offensive zone starts:
Backlund: 40.4% Only Giordano and Brodie have lower starts.
Stajan is at 58%.

Offensive zone finishes:
Backlund: 50%. 9.6% increase in the positive direction.
Stajan: 42.6%. 15.4% decrease.

Fair enough, he does stand out in something. Good for him.

Whether he fits the team moving forward or not is the debate, but again.. why the rush to move him now?

The original question was whether or not he's going to be on the move this year. I think you can extend that to this season if that makes more sense.

So it's not so much a question of moving him right now, but a question of whether or not he should be considered a part of the future anymore.

It's obviously not going to be 100% either way. Even if he's listed as "to be traded", until the right deal comes along, he'll have time to prove himself. Even if he's considered a part of the future now, this could change if, for example, Corban Knight gets a look and manages to pass him in the lineup.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Itse

Fair enough, he does stand out in something. Good for him.



The original question was whether or not he's going to be on the move this year. I think you can extend that to this season if that makes more sense.

So it's not so much a question of moving him right now, but a question of whether or not he should be considered a part of the future anymore.

It's obviously not going to be 100% either way. Even if he's listed as "to be traded", until the right deal comes along, he'll have time to prove himself. Even if he's considered a part of the future now, this could change if, for example, Corban Knight gets a look and manages to pass him in the lineup.

I think that is a very fair assessment of him (and most of the roster) moving forward. I like a lot of things about Backlund, but I also don't think he is perfect. I do think that if he is to remain on this team long-term, he will have to develop in a few areas. If this was a contender, I don't see him being more than a depth call-up really.

I just think some prospects just need some further patience, and I think Backlund is such a case. He plays such a wonderful defensive and puck-possession game already (minus the faceoff ability unfortunately), that I think it would be a terrible idea to give up on him this season. I still would classify him in the 'over-payment' category if he was to be moved, and thus not likely to be traded.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

I always find this chart so interesting. Are young players such studs because the good players have a habit of making the league earlier? Are old players really that bad?

The range of the chart is just 0.08 PPG so not as drastic a drop off as it appears.

[kyuss275]

Only read a couple of post in this forum but will give my thoughts anyway's. I like Backlund but i am not sure he fits in the Flames future plans. I think he should be given the whole year like Berra and Ramo to see what he can do. I have nothing but my own speculation on this but i think the flames will only keep him if he is a top 6 forward. I have rooted for the guy for years but i'm not sure he is ever going to be a top 6 forward. I don't believe in this crap that he does not get ice time. He is given many chances over the last couple of years and has done the same thing each time. He has a couple of good games that makes you think he can be a top 6 forward only to go back to "meh" play. The only person to blame for Backlund's ice time is Backlund. I mean come on, how hard is it to look better than a rookie or Stajan.

If the flames do trade him in the summer, i suspect he will be part of a package deal. I could see him and Glencross in the same deal.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by Itse

Backlund is not being buried.

He has the highest Corsi QualComp of any forward on the team. This means he plays against the guys who most consistently outshoot their opponents.

He also has the hardest zone starts of any forward.

I'm curious to know what you would consider being buried if the toughest quality of competition, and the toughest zone starts on the team doesn't cut it.

Also, his most frequent linemate is TJ Galiardi, with whom he spends 60% of his ice time. Just sayin'.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

He has the highest Corsi QualComp of any forward on the team. This means he plays against the guys who most consistently outshoot their opponents.

He also has the hardest zone starts of any forward.

I'm curious to know what you would consider being buried if the toughest quality of competition, and the toughest zone starts on the team doesn't cut it.

Also, his most frequent linemate is TJ Galiardi, with whom he spends 60% of his ice time. Just sayin'.

Not sure what playing with TJ Gliardi has to do with anything? Most of the forwards are made up of 3rd and 4th liners. The only 2 true top 6 forwards that i see on the flames are Cammi and Hudler, and some might not even say Hudler is a true top 6 player.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Not sure what playing with TJ Gliardi has to do with anything? Most of the forwards are made up of 3rd and 4th liners. The only 2 true top 6 forwards that i see on the flames are Cammi and Hudler, and some might not even say Hudler is a true top 6 player.

Jiri Hudler is tied for 17th in the league in points, and is over a PPG. Not sure what planet one would have to live on to say he's not a true top-6 player.

And why it's relevant is because Itse was talking about the Cammalleri-Backlund-Hudler line as 'Backlunds most common line', as if playing with the club's top players is something that he gets a routine chance to do. He spends the majority of his time being started in the defensive zone against top opposition players, with scrubs on his wings.

[Flamefan1]

Not even close in my mind. Backlund is already a much better player than Stajan. I would rather watch Backlund anytime. The sooner we can trade Stajan for a bag of pucks the better off we will be as long as he is replaced by one of our young guys - Knight, Reinhart, Granlund, etc. Stajan has 1 point in last 5 games with an average of close to 20 minutes of ice time. He has taken 8 shots on goal in 10 games. Backlund was by far the best forward in the Colorado game setting up both goals and having several other great shifts. Athough Backlund has only 5 points he has 2 in last 2 games and has29 shots in 17 games and is only playing 11 to 13 minutes per game.Jones has 0 points in last 5 games with 16 to 17 minutes per game, Galiardi has 0points in last 5 in 16 to 17 minutes a game, and Colbourne has0 points in last 5 games in 18 minutes per game (less minutes last 2). Backlund should stay and given some quality minutes.

[Psytic]

i'm only giving him up for another first rounder and since that's not happening might as well sit on him and hope for the best.

[amazing_oilers]

Is it time to trade Backlund? No. It was time 3 years ago before everyone knew he was a bust and you could get a legit return for him. Doubt he'd be claimed off the waiver wire at this point.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by amazing_oilers

Is it time to trade Backlund? No. It was time 3 years ago before everyone knew he was a bust and you could get a legit return for him. Doubt he'd be claimed off the waiver wire at this point.

At least the Flames didn't waste a first over all pick on him like say... I dunno... Nail Yakupov?

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by amazing_oilers

Is it time to trade Backlund? No. It was time 3 years ago before everyone knew he was a bust and you could get a legit return for him. Doubt he'd be claimed off the waiver wire at this point.

And Backlund is STILL out scoring Yakupov.

[amazing_oilers]

Originally Posted by _Q_

At least the Flames didn't waste a first over all pick on him like say... I dunno... Nail Yakupov?

Yakupov has 19 goals in his first 66 game NHL career. That is on par or better than most of the current NHL stars.

Took your boy Backlund 5 years to notch his 19th.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by amazing_oilers

Yakupov has 19 goals in his first 66 game NHL career. That is on par or better than most of the current NHL stars.

Took your boy Backlund 5 years to notch his 19th.

One looks as dumb as nails. Nails Yakupov.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by amazing_oilers

Yakupov has 19 goals in his first 66 game NHL career. That is on par or better than most of the current NHL stars.

Took your boy Backlund 5 years to notch his 19th.

Sweet!

Yakupov is still a bust. So is Hall and Eberle and so will Hopkins be as well.

Also, Gagner, Nash, Dubnyk, and Schultz.

Guess what? Also Nurse will bust and whoever the Oilers pick this season (probably first over-all) and McDavid if he's so unlucky to be picked by the Oilers.

Wanna know why? Because the Oilers are so incompetent that they can take Sidney fricken Crosby and turn him into the next coming of Patrick Stefan.

So sure, Backlund hasn't lived up to expectations. He's still a reliable defensively minded NHL Centre that was picked at the end of the first round in a pretty weak draft.

So in conclusion all you coiler fans can eat a #### and go #### yourselves.