Backing Backlund

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Hmm, we might be getting off track a little bit. Maybe this would be a better analogy.

In baseball, all teams have hitting coaches, but typically players are responsible for correcting their own swing w/ 3rd party help, especially in the off season. However, the hitting coach's main job is to do some work with the player on their swing, but also to identify when their swing is off so that they can correct it.

I think it is a lot to ask of a 24 year old to be identifying his own problems mid-season. Players, when they are living in the moment, tend not to see the entire picture.

All players are going to talk to family and friends about their game. Since these guys are athletes and spend a ton of time training, some of their friends are going to be coaches/trainers. These guys will offer tips or see things that a head coach doesn't see because they have less experience with the player than these friends/family have.

Its not like the Flames just threw their hands up in their air and said 'we give up... figure it out yourself'. I'm sure a lot of the messages from the coach and this guy were similar but sometimes a different voice can have more impact. Hartley flat out said that Backlund was playing too defensive and not aggressive or confident enough on the offensive end.... that is what has changed. Its not this guy came in there with some crazy idea that no one had thought about.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

All players are going to talk to family and friends about their game. Since these guys are athletes and spend a ton of time training, some of their friends are going to be coaches/trainers. These guys will offer tips or see things that a head coach doesn't see because they have less experience with the player than these friends/family have.

Its not like the Flames just threw their hands up in their air and said 'we give up... figure it out yourself'. I'm sure a lot of the messages from the coach and this guy were similar but sometimes a different voice can have more impact. Hartley flat out said that Backlund was playing too defensive and not aggressive or confident enough on the offensive end.... that is what has changed. Its not this guy came in there with some crazy idea that no one had thought about.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but a lot of these young players don't have the support system that established vets do. There needs to be some hand holding for these guys.

There are different ways of providing feedback:
"you are bad at your job"
"you are doing X wrong, so you need to do Y to correct it".

One of these works, one is complete useless.

I mean look at Baertschi. The guy is 20 years old, brand new to the area, moved around a ton, doesn't have the support structure or family structure and is completely struggling. Is that a coincidence? I'm not sure.

Is it an issue of player development? I can't say for certainty, but I can say that you shouldn't expect to take the same approach you've taken for the last 20 years and expect better results.

I look at a guy like Joe Colbourne who is taking advice from Warrener (on the radio) of all people, telling him to stand in front of the net and work on tipping pucks.

That shouldn't come from radio personalities, that should come from the coaches. I'm not trying to dump on Hartley for it - his job is systems, not exactly player development. Other guys need to be involved in that aspect.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Netminder

Exactly he's not worth near that.IMO hes not even that great to even write home about.

If to be scoring let's just say a point all the time and that means every other night would be a rush.

Glad you're making as much sense as ever, Netty. Someone care to translate?

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Stupid

Pure speculation, but I think if Hartley had not benched Backlund we might not have seen the same turnaround we're seeing today. I think the benching is the first domino so to speak.

About having a third party coach to work with individual players; I've always thought it was a good thing. I see it as putting in extra work to improve your game, everyone has weaknesses to their games and I'd argue that not working with these third parties would be far more concerning..

It's classic 'stick/carrot' motivation. Oldest trick in the book. Bench him to show him he's going to be held accountable for mistakes, and then give him the 'A’ to reward him for his hard work and great attitude. Honestly, you've got to love how he's responded to both motivation tools.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by Netminder

Exactly he's not worth near that.IMO hes not even that great to even write home about.

If to be scoring let's just say a point all the time and that means every other night would be a rush.

We missed you Netminder!

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

We missed you Netminder!

"It am are missed you we," I think you mean.

[Heavy Jack]

It's great to see him come into his game, I love his backcheck and pressure he puts on the puck. He loves to move the play forward on the transition and has a quick outlet most times since he started to explode since getting the A. I always have said that Backs is a Kesler sans the ######baggery in the making. He isn't quite on the pace that Kesler has set over his career but he's not far off. Please Burkey, re-up Russell and Bouma and extend Backs, I think I saw a post based around the thought of 3 years 6-8 mill and a few people balked at that, I have to say we'd be lucky to have him at that contract both in terms and value. With the cap going up he's sure to command 3 years / 12 mill come the off-season next year. Keep it up Backs!!!

[Netminder]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Glad you're making as much sense as ever, Netty. Someone care to translate?

Oh I think you can read that he is in fact NOT worth the money and he hasn't done a thing in ages and of course a brutal signing.

He is just one of those guys that should have ben delt IMO.

[Netminder]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

We missed you Netminder!

Yeah and I'm a huge Flames Fan.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Netminder

Oh I think you can read that he is in fact NOT worth the money and he hasn't done a thing in ages and of course a brutal signing.

He is just one of those guys that should have ben delt IMO.

Why trade a player with Backlund's potential at this point??? Makes no sense. We have already invested 200+ games into and he is finally starting to round out his game. Dude is on pace for 20 goals this year and is playing unreal hockey for us since getting the A. Hartley is bringing the best parts of Backs game to the for front.

[macrov]

Backlund is turning into a legit 2nd line centre

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by Netminder

Oh I think you can read that he is in fact NOT worth the money and he hasn't done a thing in ages and of course a brutal signing.

He is just one of those guys that should have ben delt IMO.

Dear lord, no.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Netminder

Oh I think you can read that he is in fact NOT worth the money and he hasn't done a thing in ages and of course a brutal signing.

I'll bite: what's the defect in his current play Netminder?

[blankall]

Wow...I did not realize that Backlund was 3rd on our team in scoring and 2nd among forwards. Great for him!

He has less than a .5 ppg pace though

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by blankall

Wow...I did not realize that Backlund was 3rd on our team in scoring and 2nd among forwards. Great for him!

He has less than a .5 ppg pace though

But he has 8 goals and 14 pts in his last 25.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Why trade a player with Backlund's potential at this point??? Makes no sense. We have already invested 200+ games into and he is finally starting to round out his game. Dude is on pace for 20 goals this year and is playing unreal hockey for us since getting the A. Hartley is bringing the best parts of Backs game to the for front.

There is no point in trading him as this streak hasn't increased his value by much, if any.

As TC points out, he's had a very productive last 25 games, but what about the first 25? There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a lot of teams look past Calgary, because we are at the league bottom. This also coincides with the 25 game mark and his improvement.

We need him to be a 2nd line centre because he can't be a 3rd. here's hoping that the Backlund backers are right about him "turning the corner"...they've been wrong numerous times before.

If he walks into 2014/15 with his usually 11 points in 25+ games - I told you.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

As TC points out, he's had a very productive last 25 games, but what about the first 25? There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a lot of teams look past Calgary, because we are at the league bottom. This also coincides with the 25 game mark and his improvement.

so your point is that he scores more because other teams now "underestimate" the Flames, am I reading that right? Then why did veterans like Hudler, Cammalleri and Stempniak all score better in the first half of the season? Outside of Backlund, I don't see any Flames forward that has significantly improved offensively since the 25 game mark.

[sureLoss]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/02/01...03b4c9c46212a7

Before Belfry even had his first face-to-face meeting with Backlund last summer, he asked the Calgary Flames centre to provide footage for a video analysis.

The verdict?

"I think the biggest thing that stuck out is that he has a tremendous amount of skill but wasn't sure, wasn't clear, on how to convert that skill into making plays," Belfry recalled. "I'm not sure that he really knew and, still, I'm not sure that he really knows how good of a player he could actually be."

Belfry is hoping to help him get there.

Based in St. Catharines, Ont., the independent skills coach is best known for his work with Chicago Blackhawks sharpshooter Patrick Kane, but that's not the only big name on his client list.

New York Islanders captain John Tavares, Colorado Avalanche speedster Matt Duchene and talented winger Zach Parise, of the Minnesota Wild, who are in Calgary for Saturday's Hockey Night in Canada clash with the Flames (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet 960 The Fan), also consult Belfry.

At the suggestion of his agents, Backlund hooked up with the founder of the Pro PlayMakers program after the lockout-shortened season, a supplement to what he learns from Flames boss Bob Hartley and his assistants on a day-to-day basis.

The video assessment was the first step. Now, the 24-year-old centre receives statistical analysis and clips from Belfry every five games or so and says he's benefited from the extra set of eyes.

Flames centre Joe Colborne has also enlisted Belfry as he tries to translate his top-notch offensive skills into more points at the NHL level.

"(Belfry) is a smart guy and he knows hockey really well," Backlund said after Friday's practice at the Saddledome. "In November, when I was struggling, he told me, 'Just try to hold onto the puck for four or five seconds instead of throwing it away right away. Just see what happens when you do that.' "

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

If he walks into 2014/15 with his usually 11 points in 25+ games - I told you.

And if he gets more? Did we tell you?

And what excuse will you come up with to justify your blind hate? People didn't expect him to play well so they didn't play him as hard, and he took advantage? His line mates improved a lot and that's why he has better numbers but he still sucks?

I love coming on here and reading your posts about Backlund. Always good for an incredulous chuckle.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

There is no point in trading him as this streak hasn't increased his value by much, if any.

As TC points out, he's had a very productive last 25 games, but what about the first 25? There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a lot of teams look past Calgary, because we are at the league bottom. This also coincides with the 25 game mark and his improvement.

We need him to be a 2nd line centre because he can't be a 3rd. here's hoping that the Backlund backers are right about him "turning the corner"...they've been wrong numerous times before.

If he walks into 2014/15 with his usually 11 points in 25+ games - I told you.

But I thought he's gonna be in the KHL by then?