Mikael Backlund - Flames most underrated player?

[flamesforcup]

Last 2 years hes been awesome but hes rarely appreciated. He gets the toughest minutes and always makes his line-mates better. This year hes arguably been our best forward so far. Has only 27% offensive zone starts and while shutting down other teams best players hes had 5 points in 9 games. Hes finally starting to get the respect he deserves. In the past he had such bad point totals cause he was given absolute garbage linemates. One of his biggest knocks was his faceoff percentage and this year he has 53.3% winning percentage in the dot. So the question is how important is Backlund to our team and is he our most underrated player? He gets very little respect from media outside our city.

[jemjey]

I think he's one of the league's most underrated players. Hope he's a flame for a long time.

[GranteedEV]

He is our best centre, bar none. Monahan might have better scoring ability and Bennett might be more talented, but without Backlund this is very much a lottery team. We could weather an injury to Monahan much more easily IMO.

[GoJetsGo]

Where r u Backlund haters?

[Heavy Jack]

I've said for years now that if he stays healthy Backs could project to be a Ryan Kesler type center without the ######baggery and his first 3-4 years matched that progression. Definitely think a full Healthy season of Backlund would see him in the top 5 considered for the selke and would go as far to say he's almost been criminally under rated and valued by some over the years here (where's that Chris guy anyways??)

Big, resounding YES to the thread titles question.

[Bunk]

The biggest difference I see is he's become a consistent performer. In years past, he'd unfortunately be ineffective for stretches of time.

I also think with respect to his skating and puck handling, a bit of Johnny seems to have rubbed off on him. Sometimes for a moment I think Johnny is carrying the puck, but then realize it's Backlund.

Him and Frolik are fantastic together and I'd be in favour of keeping Tkachuk with them in that line. That is the best way to develop him, in my opinion.

Great to have him as our 2b or 3rd centre, however you want to define him.

[locsofblu]

He is the best 3rd line center in the entire nhl.

[TheScorpion]

I actually think Frolik is more underrated, but they both are very, very good players. Love having them on this team.

[sureLoss]

Too bad he will be playing in the KHL next year...

[codynw]

I'll really miss him when he goes to the KHL next season.

[cofias]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The biggest difference I see is he's become a consistent performer. In years past, he'd unfortunately be ineffective for stretches of time.

I also think with respect to his skating and puck handling, a bit of Johnny seems to have rubbed off on him. Sometimes for a moment I think Johnny is carrying the puck, but then realize it's Backlund.

Him and Frolik are fantastic together and I'd be in favour of keeping Tkachuk with them in that line. That is the best way to develop him, in my opinion.

Great to have him as our 2b or 3rd centre, however you want to define him.

I think he would learn a ton at both ends playing with those two guys, and they would certainly be able to cover up for any rookie mistakes. Problem is that Tkachuk would then get stuck with the toughest defensive assignments night in and night out, which is a tall order to handle for any 18 yo.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by codynw

I'll really miss him when he goes to the KHL next season.

sureLossed

[CroFlames]

He's fragile, but good.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by cofias

Problem is that Tkachuk would then get stuck with the toughest defensive assignments night in and night out, which is a tall order to handle for any 18 yo.

Myth. He's a winger. He is a lot more likely to be pulled up by the shut down pairing / Backlund than he is to be dragged down by "tough defensive assignments".

He'd have a tougher time playing with Monahan/Gaudreau for instance, because those guys draw tough checking assignments. Facing the other team's best offensive players doesn't mean you're facing their best shut down players.

Like I said in a previous thread, Bennett played his best hockey as a rookie with Backlund, and his worst hockey on anyone else's wing (his play at centre was in the middle of those two extremes despite the added responsibilities). Tkachuk is in a similar boat, he stands to benefit from Backlund a lot more than struggle against Backlund's opposition.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by locsofblu

He is the best 3rd line center in the entire nhl.

Evidence that Backlund is underrated.

[the-rasta-masta]

We've watched Backlund grow into a savvy vet right in front of our eyes. I guess this is what drafting and developing your own players looks like?

[sempuki]

Proof of how long it takes to properly develop a player sometimes. I'm glad we had patience with him. I think Ferland have the same trajectory.

[justing]

I think he's severely underrated by non-Flames fans.
His coming out party will be the the 2017 playoffs.

[DJones]

Think there's an argument for him being a top 50 center

[shogged]

Backlund is an excellent NHL player and I really hope he can stay healthy this year because that has been his biggest drawback since joining the league