Re-sign Backlund Thread

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

At age 23, Backlund had better offensive stats than Jankowski and had much better possession numbers, so why is there this expectation that Jankowksi will become better than him offensively? Nothing thus far in his career would indicate it.

Jankowski has been in the league for 3 months...

When Backlund turned 23 he was in his 3rd pro season and had played well over 100 NHL games.

[Ashasx]

So is the expectation then, despite the fact that Backlund outperformed Jankowski at the same age, that Jankowski will develop at a steeper incline because this is his first pro season?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

So is the expectation then, despite the fact that Backlund outperformed Jankowski at the same age, that Jankowski will develop at a steeper incline because this is his first pro season?

Yes.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I like Backlund but you are way, way overrating him and basically attacking anyone who disagrees.

You said a few pages back we should sign him to ANY term length if he takes $5m per. That's madness.

We need to manage our assets better than that.

[Poe969]

nm

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Poe969

By those metrics, Backlund had more points at 23 than Gaudreau did. Does that mean anything?

Their Development has been way different, Janko has way more offensive upside than Backlund has ever had. Janko may never reach his potential but at this point I would think it's safe to say that most feel he'll be better offensively in the next 2-3 years than Backlund will.

Gaudreau had 61 points at age 23?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I like Backlund but you are way, way overrating him and basically attacking anyone who disagrees.

You said a few pages back we should sign him to ANY term length if he takes $5m per. That's madness.

We need to manage our assets better than that.

This is a sensible post. But I will say that while Ashasx may be guilty of over-rating Backlund a little, the insistence by a number of other posters that he is nothing more than a really good third-line centre is utter nonsense. Backlund ranks #53 in production among centres over the course of the past four seasons. Over the past three seasons, he is ranked #37.

Of course, he is a second line centre. And the numbers would indicate that he is actually a very good one.

[Ashasx]

I get that you guys believe it's unfair to compare Jankowski directly here because it's his first pro season. I will take that as a fair assessment.

All I'm saying is that I don't think it's a safe assumption at all to assume that "he'll be better offensively in the next 2-3 years than Backlund will."

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I like Backlund but you are way, way overrating him and basically attacking anyone who disagrees.

You said a few pages back we should sign him to ANY term length if he takes $5m per. That's madness.

We need to manage our assets better than that.

I didn't attack anyone who didn't attack me.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Gaudreau had 61 points at age 23?

And math is not my strong point this morning.... Either way, we can agree that comparing players at where they were at the same age isn't accurate.

[Ashasx]

Gaudreau played his first full NHL season at 21...

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This is a sensible post. But I will say that while Ashasx may be guilty of over-rating Backlund a little, the insistence by a number of other posters that he is nothing more than a really good third-line centre is utter nonsense. Backlund ranks #53 in production among centres over the course of the past four seasons. Over the past three seasons, he is ranked #37.

Of course, he is a second line centre. And the numbers would indicate that he is actually a very good one.

My issue with this is that his numbers are inflated because of one above average year. He was basically a 40ish point player who had one year over 50 points and it doesn't seem like he'll get that this year. His one good offensive year likely won't be repeated by him again. And as for him ranking #53, if you look at the past few years of Stanley Cup champs or even finalists, where would he rank? Teams that go deep or win the Cup typically have better centers on their second line. I don't want the Flames to be like the rest of the teams in the league, I want them to win and to do that they need better value and more points coming from players.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Poe969

My issue with this is that his numbers are inflated because of one above average year. He was basically a 40ish point player who had one year over 50 points and it doesn't seem like he'll get that this year. His one good offensive year likely won't be repeated by him again. And as for him ranking #53, if you look at the past few years of Stanley Cup champs or even finalists, where would he rank? Teams that go deep or win the Cup typically have better centers on their second line. I don't want the Flames to be like the rest of the teams in the league, I want them to win and to do that they need better value and more points coming from players.

Last 3 seasons

47 points
53 points
on page for 50 points

which of these is the one good offensive year that likely won't be repeated again?

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Last 3 seasons

47 points
53 points
on page for 50 points

which of these is the one good offensive year that likely won't be repeated again?

I see your point but which of those seasons is worth $6MM AVV?

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

I see your point but which of those seasons is worth $6MM AVV?

...who is saying that?

[Poe969]

the highest? I still think he'll average just under 50 points and if you look before the past 3 seasons, he wasn't performing as well. Also 47 then 53 then 50 does that mean he peaked and will continue to decline?

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Poe969

the highest? I still think he'll average just under 50 points and if you look before the past 3 seasons, he wasn't performing as well. Also 47 then 53 then 50 does that mean he peaked and will continue to decline?

It's unlikely that Backlund will be scoring significantly more points per season now given his age, but you keep moving the goal posts here.

He's been very consistent the last three seasons. When I look at point those point totals, I don't see somebody who is on the way down. There's no reason to assume he can't continue to be an effective two way player for a while.

[Poe969]

I agree, I'm just saying that on a winning team, he's more of a third liner. I think if you take Tkachuck off of his line and put Tkachuck with a more offensively skilled player he would do a lot better and Backlund won't do as well, I think that's what the goal of the team should be. Right now the Flames lines are pretty constant at being not good enough offensively, they need someone better playing with Tkachuck to have 2 lines that can score and that way Backlund could be a great third liner who could chip in offensively.

[Ashasx]

Of course Tkachuk helps Backlund. He is a fantastic player. But Backlund also helps Tkachuk.

Backlund also put up 47 points before Tkachuk was ever a teammate.

And Backlund is a 3rd line centre on how many teams in this league? Two? And that has everything to do with the players that would be in front of him (Crosby, Malkin, Getzlaf, Kesler).

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I get that you guys believe it's unfair to compare Jankowski directly here because it's his first pro season. I will take that as a fair assessment.

All I'm saying is that I don't think it's a safe assumption at all to assume that "he'll be better offensively in the next 2-3 years than Backlund will."

IMO he's better than Backlund offensively right now. Backlund is playing with Tkachuk which helps a lot. I'd love to see Bennett-Jankowski-Tkachuk given a shot. Bennett when he's on is almost on tkachuk's level but he's so hot cold lately.