Backing Backlund

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Lots of GMs hire coaches that they know and have a relationship with.

Sutter hired a Sutter, with a plan B to hire another Sutter (himself) if the first Sutter couldn't take the job.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by moon

The hockey people that didn't hire him for 5 years while he was out of the NHL and had to have his buddy hire him back.

I guess Scotty Bowman sucked too since Buffalo axed him in the 86-87 season, and he wasn't able to find another job in the NHL until 1990 (not even as a coach!) and it wasn't until Badger Bob was diagnosed with cancer that he got back to coaching.

Hockey is often a 'what have you done for me lately' gig. Hartley has won in every league he has been in. It may very well have been true that Hartley couldn't find a job in the NHL for those 5 years, but at the moment he is once again a pretty highly regarded coach. Another once highly regarded coach (and a past winner of the Jack Adams) is currently coaching his Swiss team.

You obviously do not like him, but to say that these 'hockey people' don't like him is not true. He has been highly praised by many hockey people this year.

People change, learn and adapt. Just like Backlund in this thread who many wrote off and is now quickly becoming a very important piece for this team. My favorite coach of all time was Badger Bob Johnson. He didn't win it with Calgary, though he came close. I think he was still universally thought of as a better coach than Terry Crisp though. He also seems like a great coach for rookies. I am not sure where people got the idea that he was terrible for rookies, but Tanguay and Hejduk were both great under him. This team has youth pushing it at the moment, and Hartley is frequently rewards them for their efforts (Bouma on the PP for instance).

Backlund is having a 'coming out year' it seems. I do think that Brent Sutter's system was too creative constraining on offence. Now you have a Hartley who is 'forcing' Backlund to be more creative with the puck rather than dumping into the corners and starting a cycle. Sure, Backlund hired a skills coach and has spoken to other coaches, but this simply would not have happened under Brent. Hartley preaches offensive creativity, as long as you are being responsible defensively. Backlund got scratched when he didn't provide as much offensive creativity as Hartley felt he could.

Not trying to take a snipe at Brent Sutter, but Hartley seems like a much better coach for youth at this point. I can't see Backlund thriving and developing as much under Brent as he is under Bob.

[driveway]

Backlund makes third star of the week:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=703494

All aboard the Backwagon!!

[PeteMoss]

Old thread bump but thought this was an interesting stat -

So far in March the only forward averaging more time on the ice per game than Backlund is Ryan Getzlaf.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/statistics/pl...wards/split/47

If you go back to November - he was 310th among forwards (behind guys like Matt Martin and Craig Adams)

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

That's going to be in the KHL/AHL though, right?

[nightfx]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

Go away

[Trailer Fire]

Whodda thunk we'd see you in this thread again?

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

You can only hope....right? What a pathetic post / blatant troll

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

You keep moving the goal posts. Just stop.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Backlund could win the Hart, Art Ross, Selke, Lady Bing, Jennings, and ****ing Jack Adams trophy in the same year, and 'Where ru Chrish O'Sullivan' would be saying "That's not sustainable, he's bound to regress. Just like I said."

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

Still hoping to find that nut, right Where ru Blind Squirrel?

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Backlund could win the Hart, Art Ross, Selke, Lady Bing, Jennings, and ****ing Jack Adams trophy in the same year, and 'Where ru Chrish O'Sullivan' would be saying "That's not sustainable, he's bound to regress. Just like I said."

"if he doesn't win the Calder in his sophomore year - I told you"

[Red Ice Player]

The first time I watched Backlund play was at a Rockets/Giants playoff game in Kelowna. The way he looked was just about identical to what his game looks like now. He has finally transitioned that dominant style to the best league in the world. I say he only gets better from here. I told you...

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

Troll Status: successful

Well done.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Sadly, it only matters if it translates to the beginning of next year - both TOI and Production.

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Lets see how he does in the important first quarter of next year, "if he puts up 8 points in the first 20 games - I told you"

Dude, sometimes it's ok to admit you were wrong eh...

[Swayze11]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Old thread bump but thought this was an interesting stat -

So far in March the only forward averaging more time on the ice per game than Backlund is Ryan Getzlaf.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/statistics/pl...wards/split/47

If you go back to November - he was 310th among forwards (behind guys like Matt Martin and Craig Adams)

Wow, what is more surprising is Semin is 3rd.

[H2SO4(aq)]

I can just imagine Where ru Chris O'sullivan sitting on his couch shaking with rage everytime Backlund scores, or sets up a goal, or gets added as the 2nd assist.

Man, it must be really infuriating for Chris.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

I can just imagine Where ru Chris O'sullivan sitting on his couch shaking with rage everytime Backlund scores, or sets up a goal, or gets added as the 2nd assist.

Man, it must be really infuriating for Chris.

No, he's trolling everyone at this point. He posts the same thing, even though he's got to know it's ridiculous, and he gets the same page and a half of reaction every time. It's probably hilarious to him.

[renny]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

All of his success this year has come when the team was dead, buried and overlooked.

Pretty sure this team was dead, buried and overlooked from game 1.