[Signing] Flames Sign Backlund to Multi Year Deal! 3 years, 3.575m AAV.

[Dion]

[QUOTE=Vulcan;5336648]Great offensive stats are good and all but you need to play an all round game and come through when it counts, not be a liability. I get that Nilsson was a childhood hero to lots of people, but he was more flash than substance.[/QUOTE]

Are you freakin kidding me?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Now I want to see a 82 game campaign from Backlund. Prove he's worth the raise.

Even if he only plays 180 games over the course of the deal he will 'be worth it'. As long as he puts up .5 ppg and keeps up the rest of his game this is absolutely market rate for a 2nd/3rd line tweener, even one who is a little injury prone.

At this point there is no reason to expect Backlund to become more durable. I'm sure Treliving expects him to miss 10-15 games per season. He signed Backlund for the player he is, warts and all.

[FireGilbert]

I'm late to the thread but this is amazing news! Backlund is a great shutdown possession centre with scoring ability who has been improving every season and seems to love playing on the Flames. It also confirms Calgary has some of the best centre depth in the league. I never thought I would say that before!

[handgroen]

[QUOTE=Dion;5336915]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Great offensive stats are good and all but you need to play an all round game and come through when it counts, not be a liability. I get that Nilsson was a childhood hero to lots of people, but he was more flash than substance.[/QUOTE]

Are you freakin kidding me?

the best part of the video is the interviewer's awe struck laugh after nilsson rings the crossbar.

[Coach]

Good deal for both sides. I like it!

[GioforPM]

Nilsson was the centrepiece of the team for years, including after Lanny came (no coincidence Lanny got his biggest goalscoring season ever with Nilsson).

He was the first Euro player to crack 100 points. Third in the NHL that season with 131. And he was so bad defensively that he was used on the PK. And scored 9 shorties in one season. He was over a PPG in EVERY season he played in the NHL (except that 1998 6 game appearance with the Oilers). In Calgary he was well over a PPG in fact (his 131 point season he had 82 assists in 80 games).

Those who say he was anything less than the best Swede on this team is kidding themselves. And never saw him play.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Nilsson was the centrepiece of the team for years, including after Lanny came (no coincidence Lanny got his biggest goalscoring season ever with Nilsson).

He was the first Euro player to crack 100 points. Third in the NHL that season with 131. And he was so bad defensively that he was used on the PK. And scored 9 shorties in one season. He was over a PPG in EVERY season he played in the NHL (except that 1998 6 game appearance with the Oilers). In Calgary he was well over a PPG in fact (his 131 point season he had 82 assists in 80 games).

Those who say he was anything less than the best Swede on this team is kidding themselves. And never saw him play.

I saw him play plenty of times. I remember one particular time he came back from an injury and had a double chin. The guy had great skills sure but he lacked commitment and that's why he was traded for less than what we got for Glencross.

It was Choinard feeding Lanny for his 66 goals.

[Steve Bozek]

Nilsson and Loob were the best Swedes this team has had, and for pure skill and "best season", you have to go with Nilsson. Before he drifted into Bob Johnson's doghouse, he was an impact player in the first 3 years in Calgary. And he briefly became one again - under the right motivating conditions (threats from Messier?) he still came back to help the Oilers win a cup.

You're right about Chouinard being the centre that set up Lanny.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

The guy had great skills sure but he lacked commitment and that's why he was traded for less than what we got for Glencross.

Not really, he was traded for the 27th overall pick in 1985, and the 25th overall in 1987. Which would the equivalent of two first rounders by today's standards.

So you could also argue we got more for Nilsson then we did for Iginla.

[Yrebmi]

FWIW a "he said she said" sort of thing. A former co-worker of mine claimed to have had beers with Nilsson at a BBQ or some such. Nilsson allegedly said he didn't have to work hard, and that was for less talented players.
It was that supposed attitude that kept an elite player from being a superstar, and why if #14 is retired on this team it won't be for Nilsson.

Actually most the disagreements in this thread appear to stem from comparing good two way players to great one way players.
It will be very interesting to see where Backs sits on our best lists at the end of this contract.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Great offensive stats are good and all but you need to play an all round game and come through when it counts, not be a liability. I get that Nilsson was a childhood hero to lots of people, but he was more flash than substance.[/QUOTE]

Are you freakin kidding me?

I was thinking he was gonna go 6/6 off the crossbar. Now that would be impressive.

[MissTeeks]

So, back on topic:

Will Nault‏@Fan960Nault33m33 minutes ago

Mikael Backlund will join HC@Noon with Steinberg at 12:10 this afternoon. #Flames

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Not really, he was traded for the 27th overall pick in 1985, and the 25th overall in 1987. Which would the equivalent of two first rounders by today's standards.

So you could also argue we got more for Nilsson then we did for Iginla.

One was Joe N. as I recall. Pretty good deal.

But what's the argument anyway? That Nilsson was great as a Flame and they traded him at just the right time? Mind you, he was still a PPG for Minnie and the Oilers.

[Sylvanfan]

What would a center like Backlund be worth as a UFA player? I would think that as a 27 year old UFA, he would be offered as much as 4.0 a year for a 3 year term, possibly more dollars and term elsewhere. So the Flames save around half a million for those two years, and pay him a bit more next year when money really is not an issue.

Also with personal tax rates going up for NHL salary players, I expect the Flames may need to start paying a bit more than they previously did. Yes these guys are millionaires, but essentially his provincial tax rate is being upped by 50% on all of his salary. So those who know the nuances of taxes for a NHL player....whats that in simple terms about 55% of his salary earned playing games in Alberta being taxed at 15% as opposed to 10%. Enough to make it 3.575 over 3.5?

Lets be honest if you have a chance to sign a UFA forward for market value at the ages of 27 and 28 you always make that choice. I'm happy with the deal. Locks down a good player and gives the team some cap flexibility going forward.

[ricardodw]

How times change:

Monahan, Bennett, Backlund, Stajan, Shore

Plus guys that were centres that got moved to the wing to play in the NHL .. Colborne, Bouma, Jooris, Granlund Plus best prospect in the AHL Arnold being a centre

If you were a NCAA Centre that was graduating after this coming year that might be able to play in the NHL in the next 2-3 years AND could pick their team would you pick the Flames?

A few years ago Stajan, Backund, Horak, Blair Jones, Begin, Rienhart were the centre depth and Cammalleri and Tanguay were being forced to play centre to fill in the spot.

Basically a UFA NCAA centre would look at the Flames and figure he had a chance to slot in at #3.... (Knight for instance)

[Red Menace]

I believe that no sought after UFA NCAA players born outside Alberta have ever decided to sign with the Flames period. (don't think we can consider Jooris sought after)
I hope that changes, but I am not counting on it.
(I'm talking recent history, not back to the 80's when we nabbed the likes of Otto and Macoun)

[Enoch Root]

nm

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

What would a center like Backlund be worth as a UFA player? I would think that as a 27 year old UFA, he would be offered as much as 4.0 a year for a 3 year term, possibly more dollars and term elsewhere. So the Flames save around half a million for those two years, and pay him a bit more next year when money really is not an issue.

Also with personal tax rates going up for NHL salary players, I expect the Flames may need to start paying a bit more than they previously did. Yes these guys are millionaires, but essentially his provincial tax rate is being upped by 50% on all of his salary. So those who know the nuances of taxes for a NHL player....whats that in simple terms about 55% of his salary earned playing games in Alberta being taxed at 15% as opposed to 10%. Enough to make it 3.575 over 3.5?

Lets be honest if you have a chance to sign a UFA forward for market value at the ages of 27 and 28 you always make that choice. I'm happy with the deal. Locks down a good player and gives the team some cap flexibility going forward.

NHL players in Alberta paid less in taxes than anywhere else in the league. I would guess it's a non-issue.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

How times change:

Monahan, Bennett, Backlund, Stajan, Shore

Plus guys that were centres that got moved to the wing to play in the NHL .. Colborne, Bouma, Jooris, Granlund Plus best prospect in the AHL Arnold being a centre

If you were a NCAA Centre that was graduating after this coming year that might be able to play in the NHL in the next 2-3 years AND could pick their team would you pick the Flames?

A few years ago Stajan, Backund, Horak, Blair Jones, Begin, Rienhart were the centre depth and Cammalleri and Tanguay were being forced to play centre to fill in the spot.

Basically a UFA NCAA centre would look at the Flames and figure he had a chance to slot in at #3.... (Knight for instance)

Yes, I think Jankowski will sign with the Flames.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

How times change:

Monahan, Bennett, Backlund, Stajan, Shore

Plus guys that were centres that got moved to the wing to play in the NHL .. Colborne, Bouma, Jooris, Granlund Plus best prospect in the AHL Arnold being a centre

If you were a NCAA Centre that was graduating after this coming year that might be able to play in the NHL in the next 2-3 years AND could pick their team would you pick the Flames?

A few years ago Stajan, Backund, Horak, Blair Jones, Begin, Rienhart were the centre depth and Cammalleri and Tanguay were being forced to play centre to fill in the spot.

Basically a UFA NCAA centre would look at the Flames and figure he had a chance to slot in at #3.... (Knight for instance)

There's almost no chance Granlund, Jooris or Bouma will play centre any more, and Arnold is not close to making the team IMO. Jankowski is a couple years away still, about when Stajan will be done here. The 3-4 centres will be Backs, Janko, Shore or Colborne, and the latter two can play wing.