[News] Backlund line at top of the league in possession

[Kovaz]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Quick aside....not a derail: Where do you find these stats? I used to use dobber for line combo minutes.

http://www.corsica.hockey/combos/ is what I use. Nicest UI of any fancy stats site I've stumbled upon although it does have a few bugs.

[Flash Walken]

Quick look at the homely stats, Flames have the lowest scoring team scoring leader in the NHL, 3 players tied for 6 goals in 27 games.

[AC]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Quick aside....not a derail: Where do you find these stats? I used to use dobber for line combo minutes.

Yeah I got them from Dobber still.

http://dobberhockey.com/players/matthew-tkachuk

Scroll down to 2016-2017 Line Combinations & Production.

[Bourque's Twin]

Backlund is ageing like a fine wine.

When he was drafted many had hopes that he could be a #1 C in the NHL some day. Most of those hopes were high because the Flames had no other good prospects in the organisation. As a few seasons went by it seemed like Backs was going to be too soft and possibly not skilled enough to be an effective NHL centre. Many wrote him off by the time he was 23 because players are supposed to be fully developed by 23, right?

However, Backs has dug deeper every season. He comes back smarter, stronger, and more determined each year. He's 27 now and he's playing like Patrice Bergeron. Or dare I see Jonathan Toews? I guess so as his line is one of the most effective in the NHL today.

Kudos to his linemates as well. Frolik is cut from the same cloth. They are tenacious, crafty, and have a good blend of smarts, skill, and speed. They outwork opponents. Adding Tkachuk to that line has given them the grit and toughness they need. Not to mention, someone who can keep up with their cycling and be a presence in front of the net. It's nice to see Backlund mix it up in the scrums and push guys around.

I hope Jankowski can see Backlund's career as motivation. I don't care how long it takes Jankowski but if he can turn into Backlund, the Flames may have scored a top 5 player in that draft.

[pepper24]

If Monahan and Bennett continue to be our future top 2 centers what are the chances we trade Backlund during his UFA season next year or this summer? We also have Jankowski progressing nicely as our future 3rd line center. Tough to give up on Monahan and Bennett at 21 and 20 when Backlund is 27. A long runway for Jankowski as well.

Monahan (1/2)
Bennett (1/2)
Jankowski (3)
AHL guy/F. Hamilton

Bennett and Tkachuk will need to get paid in a few years. Backlund will also deserve a raise.

Good problems to have for the Flames.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Why can't we have both?

I will only accept trading away Backlund if the return is really good, and/or he simply prices himself out of the Flames.

I don't see a reason why Jankowsi (whom I love) won't fit in somewhere else - maybe as a center for Bennett if Bennett doesn't work out as a center, or a winger in the top 6, or even the LW on the line with Backlund and Frolik.

I really don't understand the insistence that Jankowski end up a center, or that the Flames are better off trading a center for a winger. Heck, I would prefer 12 centers as forwards on this team who are good on draws, who can switch back to playing center when there is an injury, and who are great 2-way players. If he ends up beating out one of the existing centers down the road, then the Flames should switch whatever center got beat into a winger. It provides the Flames with more versatility and ability to back-fill when injuries mount. It also allows the centers on the team the flexibility to cheat on important draws when they know a competent center can come in and take that draw.

[indes]

Give Backlund Stajans money and call it a day, I would rather too many good centers playing out of position than getting rid of our steadiest guy.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Unsustainable!

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Why can't we have both?

I will only accept trading away Backlund if the return is really good, and/or he simply prices himself out of the Flames. .

Because there is a cap, because he will be a 29 year old UFA and could easily price himself out of an acceptable range for the Flames. If they can get him signed and make it work I'm all for it, I just don't know how much more wiggle room above the 3.75 he makes now the Flames will have. Backlund is a UFA with Stajan and Bouma so that's some money there letting the latter two walk.

A lot depends on what they do with Bennett this summer, bridge or long term and what they expect Tkachuk to get when he's RFA.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Because there is a cap, because he will be a 29 year old UFA and could easily price himself out of an acceptable range for the Flames. If they can get him signed and make it work I'm all for it, I just don't know how much more wiggle room above the 3.75 he makes now the Flames will have. Backlund is a UFA with Stajan and Bouma so that's some money there letting the latter two walk.

A lot depends on what they do with Bennett this summer, bridge or long term and what they expect Tkachuk to get when he's RFA.

Right, which is why I said "as long as Backlund doesn't price himself out of the Flames".

Backlund is the type of guy that helps the Flames win games. I think Jankowski is the type of player that helps teams win games, and I expect him to be that kind of player (however offensive is the big question) for the Flames as well. I think they are both a 'solution', but of course it all depends on what the prices are.

Backlund should be a priority re-sign and on the roster ahead of any winger not named Gaudreau and Tkachuk. If it means you move Brouwer (who I like) and even Frolik (who makes a wonderful tandem with Backlund), then you do it, IMO.

[bigrangy]

I agree, Backlund is a good enough center that you can afford to pay him 4-5 million because he can drag sub-1 million dollar players to respectable performances if he has to. 6-7 million total spent on your 3rd line seems like a decent use of cap for me.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by pepper24

If Monahan and Bennett continue to be our future top 2 centers what are the chances we trade Backlund during his UFA season next year or this summer? We also have Jankowski progressing nicely as our future 3rd line center. Tough to give up on Monahan and Bennett at 21 and 20 when Backlund is 27. A long runway for Jankowski as well.

Monahan (1/2)
Bennett (1/2)
Jankowski (3)
AHL guy/F. Hamilton

Bennett and Tkachuk will need to get paid in a few years. Backlund will also deserve a raise.

Good problems to have for the Flames.

Re-signing Backlund should be a priority for the team. Even if you project younger players as centres full time, I can't see Bennett or Jankowski being better than Backlund in just two years.

Backlund, Stajan and Bouma all expire at the same time - if they just give Backs the money from those contracts on a 5-year deal, he gets $5.325M, and we still walk away netting $1.75M in capspace.

If they have to trade him later, they can. For now, they don't have the luxury of walking away.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Right, which is why I said "as long as Backlund doesn't price himself out of the Flames".

Backlund is the type of guy that helps the Flames win games. I think Jankowski is the type of player that helps teams win games, and I expect him to be that kind of player (however offensive is the big question) for the Flames as well. I think they are both a 'solution', but of course it all depends on what the prices are.

Backlund should be a priority re-sign and on the roster ahead of any winger not named Gaudreau and Tkachuk. If it means you move Brouwer (who I like) and even Frolik (who makes a wonderful tandem with Backlund), then you do it, IMO.

So what would be a scenario where Backlund would have priced himself out of the Flames? 4.5? 5? 5.5?

What's your threshold for paying a centre who doesn't put up points? As good as he's been this season, he's still only on pace for ~35 points.

Just how much is 35 points worth?

[FBI]

I really think Backlund might go up to the GM and say..

"Hey, offer me something fair for the team, I just really want to stay in Calgary and play"

Maybe he stays at 3.75 or 4

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

So what would be a scenario where Backlund would have priced himself out of the Flames? 4.5? 5? 5.5?

What's your threshold for paying a centre who doesn't put up points? As good as he's been this season, he's still only on pace for ~35 points.

Just how much is 35 points worth?

He's worth more than Frolik, but if he got something similar or slightly higher, it would be what he's worth in my opinion.

[Wiggum_PI]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

So what would be a scenario where Backlund would have priced himself out of the Flames? 4.5? 5? 5.5?

What's your threshold for paying a centre who doesn't put up points? As good as he's been this season, he's still only on pace for ~35 points.

Just how much is 35 points worth?

Weren't you the guy who was saying "who cares about point totals, all that matters are wins"?

[Kipper_3434]

His value depends on term for me.2 x4.75 3x4.3, 4x4, and 5x3.75-3.5 depending on how the next season and a half goes.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Wiggum_PI

Weren't you the guy who was saying "who cares about point totals, all that matters are wins"?

The Flames have never been winners while backlund has been on the roster.

At some point, if you're the best possession line in the NHL, you should be scoring goals.

So, the Flames aren't really winning, and they aren't really scoring, so, just how much is that worth?

[Inglewood Jack]

Backs is a possession monster with mediocre finish. if he actually did have finish, he would be Kopitar and cost 8-10M bucks.

Monahan is basically the opposite. maybe if they had a baby you'd end up with the ultimate franchise centre.

[Wiggum_PI]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

The Flames have never been winners while backlund has been on the roster.

At some point, if you're the best possession line in the NHL, you should be scoring goals.

So, the Flames aren't really winning, and they aren't really scoring, so, just how much is that worth?

Yep, don't disagree with anything you said here. Not sure what Backlund is worth as a UFA, but Flames management need to make sure they don't overpay to re-sign him if there are better options available.