[Signing] Backlund re-signs. 6 years, AAV $5.35M

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by blender

Where do you come up with this? Stastny is not better than Backlund right now. Maybe equal. Maybe.

Stastny plays for the Jets.

Backlund plays for the Flames.

Ergo Stastny > Backlund.

#logic

[Flash Walken]

What would this season look like if The Flames had:

1) Moved Backlund at the Draft for a similar/better package return than what Statsny or Brassard got?

2) Traded for Hamonic with Brodie instead of picks.

3) Didn't sign stone.

4) Sign UFA defender like Oduya (1 million 1 year), Del Zotto (2 years at 3 per), Joe MOrrow (1 year 650k)

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Bennett - Frolik
Versteeg - Janko - Brouwer
Hathaway - Stajan - Lazar

Giordano - Hamilton
Hamonic - Kulak
Oduya/Del Zotto/Morrow - Anderson
Bartkowski

Smith
Rittich/Gillies

That lineup probably is going to finish 12th in the conference. At the deadline you move Oduya/Morrow/Stajan/whoever, acquire more picks in the 2nd-5th range.

Draft 6 times in the first 3 rounds including twice in the first instead of 1 pick in the first 3 rounds.

No smoke and mirrors, no fantasy level trades, just meat and potatoes asset management for a non-playoff team.

[Calgary4LIfe]

How can you go into another season of rebuilding when a team made the playoffs even though they had a terrible start under a new coach, and were obviously swept in the playoffs due to poor goaltending?

That makes no sense.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Flash Walken, you want the Flames to continue rebuilding? Good heavens, I am tired of the 1st round pick crap, I just want us to have a good team. I'm happy Treliving had the balls to trade for a top 4 defenseman to drive us into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the results are not coming through. There's nothing we can do about that. He's going to have to really evaluate this team and what it will take to get us to the next level, whether we make the playoffs as a WC or not.

To want us going 12th in the conference rather than making the playoffs is beyond me.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

What would this season look like if The Flames had:

1) Moved Backlund at the Draft for a similar/better package return than what Statsny or Brassard got?

2) Traded for Hamonic with Brodie instead of picks.

3) Didn't sign stone.

4) Sign UFA defender like Oduya (1 million 1 year), Del Zotto (2 years at 3 per), Joe MOrrow (1 year 650k)

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Bennett - Frolik
Versteeg - Janko - Brouwer
Hathaway - Stajan - Lazar

Giordano - Hamilton
Hamonic - Kulak
Oduya/Del Zotto/Morrow - Anderson
Bartkowski

Smith
Rittich/Gillies

That lineup probably is going to finish 12th in the conference. At the deadline you move Oduya/Morrow/Stajan/whoever, acquire more picks in the 2nd-5th range.

Draft 6 times in the first 3 rounds including twice in the first instead of 1 pick in the first 3 rounds.

No smoke and mirrors, no fantasy level trades, just meat and potatoes asset management for a non-playoff team.

If you are chucking the year, why trade for Smith? Why trade for Hamonic? And your range for Oduya/Morrow/Stajan is pretty generous. I don't think you get higher than a fifth for any (Oduya couldn't get anything and was waived, Stajan wasn't even offered up).

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

If you are chucking the year, why trade for Smith? Why trade for Hamonic? And your range for Oduya/Morrow/Stajan is pretty generous. I don't think you get higher than a fifth for any (Oduya couldn't get anything and was waived, Stajan wasn't even offered up).

You trade for smith so you can be halfway decent, but sure, were it my team, you don't trade for smith, you sign a goalie in free agency.

Sure, maybe you get no additional picks for those players.

You still draft at least twice in the first and twice in the second.

You still have a top defensive defender to help out your rookies instead of the tire fire that is Brodie.

You've shed cap space allowing you to be in on retention-for-picks deals like Vegas completed.

You give Bennett a full year with better linemates to see if you can drag him into being a top 6 player.

You have spots available for any one of your defensive prospects to accelerate into, and you don't have another problematic NTC on the roster. Maybe you even get a 6th or 7th rounder for Stone's rights prior to free agency.

The frame work is you go into the season expecting a down year so you aren't tempted to do something stupid to make the playoffs. The pressure is off so you can see what some of your prospects and young players can do in different situations, and you've accumulated assets to draft that hope to be impact players with this core group in the next 1-3 years.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Stastny plays for the Jets.

Backlund plays for the Flames.

Ergo Stastny > Backlund.

#logic

OR maybe Statsny Has been the # 1/2 centre for a playoff team the last 4 years and the #1 C for 40 playoff games over this period and Backlund as never been a #1C and has 3 pts in 15 playoff games over the last 4 years

[blender]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

OR maybe Statsny Has been the # 1/2 centre for a playoff team the last 4 years and the #1 C for 40 playoff games over this period and Backlund as never been a #1C and has 3 pts in 15 playoff games over the last 4 years

Maybe that's why the Blues have never won F### all...

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I like Backlund but this contract now puts him in territory where a 40 point season isn't really good enough anymore especially when his defensive play has slipped and he's not great at face-offs. He's a useful player for sure and will not likely be a boat anchor like Brouwer for instance but at the same time he's now tetering on the wrong side of value when you consider pay for play. IMO all this contract does is buy more of the same for the Flames and as an armchair GM that's not good enough because the goal is to be more than a bubble team. If I was Treliving I would be trying to pry ROR from Buffalo and dangling Brodie and whatever else it would take and then move Backlund for draft picks/top prospect. Easier said than done but this team really needs to be upgraded up front and Backlund as a 2nd line center clearly isn't good enough for this team to elevate from bubble team to contender.

Correction, he is a 50 point player and his defensive play has not slipped.

God this board is total ####.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Correction, he is a 50 point player and his defensive play has not slipped.

God this board is total ####.

He is? You mean last year? His defensive play hasn't slipped this season? How about last night leaving his man wide open for the OT winner while he takes a skate behind the net? Come on man if you are going to post expletives on the forum and call it trash at least show that you have watched most of the season and have a grip on what's transpired. Both he and Frolik have had a down season defensively but I think it's important people realize that last season was his career season so every other season in comparison is not going to be in the same light. This board is fine and it's posts like this that is total ####.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by blender

Maybe that's why the Blues have never won F### all...

You are likely correct. The Flames #2 centre over the last 4 years is better than the Blues #1B centre. Likely Jankowski and Stajan and Shore are better centres than those St.L currently have and Bennett would be as well if he played centre.

There must be a misprint in the NHL standings as St.L without any centres that could make the Flames NHL roster is listed above the Flame in the playoff race.

Very similar thought went into the Oilers having several defensemen equal or better than Gio.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

You are likely correct. The Flames #2 centre over the last 4 years is better than the Blues #1B centre. Likely Jankowski and Stajan and Shore are better centres than those St.L currently have and Bennett would be as well if he played centre.

There must be a misprint in the NHL standings as St.L without any centres that could make the Flames NHL roster is listed above the Flame in the playoff race.

Very similar thought went into the Oilers having several defensemen equal or better than Gio.

Braden Schenn

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Correction, he is a 50 point player and his defensive play has not slipped.

God this board is total ####.

His defensive game did slip this year. Think he will get 50+ points this year. His offence game has gotten much better since he signed the contract.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He is? You mean last year? His defensive play hasn't slipped this season? How about last night leaving his man wide open for the OT winner while he takes a skate behind the net? Come on man if you are going to post expletives on the forum and call it trash at least show that you have watched most of the season and have a grip on what's transpired. Both he and Frolik have had a down season defensively but I think it's important people realize that last season was his career season so every other season in comparison is not going to be in the same light. This board is fine and it's posts like this that is total ####.

It takes virtually the lowest amount of effort possible to research the fact that Backlund is on pace for 50pts this season. He has 41pts in 67 games, putting him at roughly a 50.2 pt pace. Alos, by what metric has Backlund's defensive game regressed? I don't see it... This team has problems, but Backlund and his contract are certainly not one of them.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He is? You mean last year? His defensive play hasn't slipped this season? How about last night leaving his man wide open for the OT winner while he takes a skate behind the net? Come on man if you are going to post expletives on the forum and call it trash at least show that you have watched most of the season and have a grip on what's transpired. Both he and Frolik have had a down season defensively but I think it's important people realize that last season was his career season so every other season in comparison is not going to be in the same light. This board is fine and it's posts like this that is total ####.

You're the one who made the claim that his defensive game slipped without supporting it.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He is? You mean last year? His defensive play hasn't slipped this season? How about last night leaving his man wide open for the OT winner while he takes a skate behind the net? Come on man if you are going to post expletives on the forum and call it trash at least show that you have watched most of the season and have a grip on what's transpired. Both he and Frolik have had a down season defensively but I think it's important people realize that last season was his career season so every other season in comparison is not going to be in the same light. This board is fine and it's posts like this that is total ####.

If his defensive game has gone down from last years absolutely stellar season, then it is marginal and he is still an elite defensive player. Pointing out an anecdotal piece of evidence, hilariously in 3 on 3 overtime by the way, doesn’t change that. The only stat you can actually use to support your claim is a totally outdated and useless stat. Every underlying number still points to a great defensive player, and yes I’ve watched almost every game and he still undoubtedly passing the eye test, at least to anyone who knows this game. And yes, he is literally still on pace for 50 points, and he’s hot so has a chance of matching last years output. And if he doesn’t we’re literally talking a few points different from last year. It is such a garbage argument, one you’ve been championing. Mikael Backlund has consistently made the players around him better, including helping make Tkachuk into the monster he’s been developing into. There are problems with this team. Backlund and his good value contract (as said by almost any commentator in the league) are not a problem. Garbage take.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by VilleN

It takes virtually the lowest amount of effort possible to research the fact that Backlund is on pace for 50pts this season. He has 41pts in 67 games, putting him at roughly a 50.2 pt pace. Alos, by what metric has Backlund's defensive game regressed? I don't see it... This team has problems, but Backlund and his contract are certainly not one of them.

for what he brings on offense and defense and his level of play overall, I think it's a fair contract in this day and age.

I cheer for a team that overpays their players for no reason.
flames fans should be happy to have a player this good for what he's actually worth.

[Ashasx]

dellowhockey @dellowhockey
Curious if anyone can guess the player with the best GF/60 at 3v3 since the NHL changed the OT rules.

dellowhockey @dellowhockey
WE HAVE A WINNER! Mikael Backlund has been on the ice for just over 40 minutes of 3v3 since 2015-16 and Calgary has scored 12 times to just 3 against. I would never have guessed that.

[GioforPM]

Backlund is well among the top defensive centres in the game. Does he get beaten sometimes? Sure, it happens when you constantly line up against the top scorers in the league. There are some he plays better than others, of course - he has a harder time dealing with size (like Getzlaf) or outright speed (like McDavid) than with playmakers like Crosby (who he played really well last night).

As for the 3 on 3 - that format will make someone look bad on a nightly basis. There's a lot of guesswork and anticipation involved and it's really easy to guess wrong.

[bubbsy]

I have been hard on Backlund and the contract, but there are some solids stats refuting my position.

What I can't for the life of me understand is how can a team with a top line with a top 3 in the league in points player + 30/25 goal scoring linemates, plus a second line with the strong 2 way play of the 3m line, and with top 5 in the league top d pairing and an upper echelon goalie tandem be out of a playoff spot???

The only conclusion I can draw, is an idiotic coaching staff too dumb to recognize the lack of depth and the need to ride the top guys to garner any kind of success.....


Ugh