Where does Backlund fit in your future plans?

[jemjey]

In response to his play since returning from injury and Steinberg's article today: http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home, where do you see Backlund fitting into our future?

Personally I hope we extend him. He's our best possession player, great two-way forward, and makes his linemates better. I know we are "deep" at centre but he's a guy I can see playing top-line minutes while Monahan/Bennett progress, then being a great two-way guy who can defend and chip in offense. And like Steinberg notes, he's only 25 and has been getting better, especially these past two seasons.

Salient points:

His worth to the team goes beyond just the points though. Over the last four seasons, his first four as a full time NHLer, Backlund has consistently been one of Calgary’s best possession-driving forwards. His Corsi rate has put him in the top three among Flames forwards in each of those four seasons, and he’s lead the team in that category the last two seasons. Plain and simple, Backlund spends has spent more time in the offensive zone than anyone has over the last four years.

Right off the hop, it’s likely to take some time for Bennett to be ready to play top end minutes down the middle. Monahan wasn’t ready in year one, and he’s still learning how to do it in his sophomore season. Backlund can do it, and do it well. With him there, the Flames have fare more leeway to insulate their young centres, specifically Bennett, as he develops early in his career. That’s a good thing.

Yes, that poses questions about how other guys like Granlund and Jooris, among others, would be used going forward. They’re fair questions, but they aren’t ones that need answering in the immediate future. The question about Backlund does need to be addressed in the next number of months. It’s pretty clear from this vantage point that keeping him around long term would be nothing but beneficial for the Flames.

Where do you see Backlund? Why? If you think he should stay, what kind of contract do you hope for/think he'd be looking for?

[nik-]

Perfect #3 center on a contender. Solid to great defensively and some offensive pop.

Loves being a Flame probably more than anyone on this team.

Hopefully signed long term after this year.

[devo22]

4 year extension, 16m total.

[crapshoot]

A 4x4 contract would be great. Backlund should be here for the long haul.

[D as in David]

Do we have a KHL affiliate?

[GioforPM]

2-3 centre for the foreseeable future. $4 million per for a few years. That kind of contract will make him great as an asset in any event.

[Huntingwhale]

Backlund is a great asset and it's obvious the team is better with him then without. I'd love to see him re-sign at something like a 4x4 term. But the team should also be prepared for the fact that he is our glass man and a high risk for injury. Keep him on the team, but don't trade away from our centre depth since it's likely someone will need to replace him if he's on injured leave.

[polak]

Today, he's our #1 center. We keep him and let him get passed by Monahan and Bennett respectively as they develop. It's perfect. That way neither of them are rushed into roles they can't handle and any team that has a player like Backlund as their 3rd center is a good team.

[SeanCharles]

Third line center who can play in any situation...

Theoretically our near-future outlook (barring trade) is:

Gaudreau-Bennett-Colborne
Baertschi-Monahan-Poirier
Granlund-Backlund-Shore
Bouma-Jooris-Ferland

[H2SO4(aq)]

2/3rd line center, wearing an A, for a long time.

[jemjey]

Yahoo! Responses!

Thanks guys. It's uplifting to see that a lot of us are in agreement about him which hopefully means the same for management. (Though how could we not be after these last three games.) In response to a lot of you, do you guys see Monny/Bennett being our 1/2 as early as next season? Personally I think Backs should finish the season off as 1C and maybe even into next season, to insulate Bennett and help get Monny his scoring touch back against softer opposition. Speaking of, I guess the only knock I'd have against Backs is his tendency to get injured. Where do you think that plays into the decision?

Last question:

Do you think 4x4 is in the range of what he will be looking for? (He is still RFA, no?) That contract sounds great to me but would it be considered a hometown discount or market value?

[Finger Cookin]

Definitely not in a rush to move him or any of the other centers in the system. 4 years seems like a bit too long of a deal for my tastes, but the two year deal I want is probably too short. Compromise at 3? If that doesn't fly, I guess longer is better.

[Lumby Lager]

He is a player we should keep long term, he makes the team better when he is playing. Injury issues are secondary, as polak said if he becomes our #3 center as it looks will happen that makes us really strong down the middle. I would be happy with even a longer term like 5 or 6 yrs at a decent cap hit as I already see him as a leader and he is only 25.

[Stormchaser]

I think he slots in perfectly in the #2 center role for the next 3 years. After that i'd say he is either traded away due to Bennett passing him or given 3rd line scoring duties with Bennett and Monahan securing the first 2 lines.

Obviously Backlund's production won't continue at the same pace, but if he continues to be healthy for the remainer of the season I can see a longer contract given.

4 year contract - 5m per season

[FBI]

I believe he is part of our core. #3c for years until the late bloomers come around.

[SeanCharles]

I admit injuries and size make me wonder what his future will be here, especially since management wants size in the bottom 6 six, but after hearing Hartley and Treliving talk about him I am less worried..

The fact that he is in the age group that we have the greatest deficiency in also helps his case. We have alot of good prospects and some servicable vets that are 30ish but that 24-28 rage is pretty bare in our organization so keeping him around makes sense.

If he can stay healthy, dominate possession and put up 50+ points there is not way he doesnt stick around.

I love Backlund so I hope he sticks!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Third line center who can play in any situation...

Theoretically our near-future outlook (barring trade) is:

Gaudreau-Bennett-Colborne
Baertschi-Monahan-Poirier
Granlund-Backlund-Shore
Bouma-Jooris-Ferland

Note sure what "near term" means, but I guess you figure on a D man getting picked this year, which is fine. I don't think Ferland is a 4th liner - he's a power forward who will score. Gotta think about Wolf there as well. Don't think Granlund is a true winger - he and Shore are going to end up fighting for a centre spot (and Colborne and Arnold might as well). I think Stajan is sticking around for the length of his contract. If Sven doesn't make the team next year, he's going to be moved IMO.

[SuperMatt18]

The crazy thing about Backlund these last 3 games isn't the points, but the fact that his offensive instincts just look so much stronger.

He is making smart passes, showing more poise while holding the puck, getting into good scoring areas, and his offensive awareness just looks so much better.

Not sure what he did while he was out but his offensive zone play just looks so much different IMO.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by jemjey

Do you think 4x4 is in the range of what he will be looking for? (He is still RFA, no?) That contract sounds great to me but would it be considered a hometown discount or market value?

yeah, he's still RFA. I'd consider 4x4 a pretty fair contract, a good compromise between term and AAV. Also that would still tie him for the best paid forward on the team (both Hudler and Jones make 4m per season too).

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

2/3rd line center, wearing an A, for a long time.

absolutely.

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Theoretically our near-future outlook (barring trade) is:

Gaudreau-Bennett-Colborne
Baertschi-Monahan-Poirier
Granlund-Backlund-Shore
Bouma-Jooris-Ferland

[c.t.ner]

I see Backlund as one of the core pieces of the team moving forward and having a far longer tenure on the Flames than either of Stajan or Colbourne. Both the aforementioned players will be key players for the team this year and next, but I can't see either of them having a long term impact like Backlund in the 2016-17 season, especially when the team really starts contending.

I think having a top three of Backlund, Monahan, and Bennett will be an amazing corner stone of this franchise. Even with guys like Granlund, Janokowski, Jooris, Shore and Arnold will in the pipeline or on the team now, we know there will be spurts where there will be injuries so there is plenty of space for these guys in the longterm.