Who is Backlund?

[_Q_]

I think he's a great second line centre. I also think this team would be much better if we can drop him down to the third line and replace him on the second line with Lindholm. Having Lindholm play first line right wing is overkill in my mind. Ryan would be a great fourth line centre and Jankowski would be a great AHL top line centre where he belongs.

[You Need a Thneed]

Backlund might not have quite the offensive ability one might hope for from a 2C, but he is ELITE defensively. Other teams top lines have struggled to score goals when Backlund is on the ice for quite a few years now.

Backlund probably should have won the Selke in 2017, and definitely should have been higher than 8th this year. None of the “favourites” are as good at keeping the puck out of their own net (5 on 5) as Backlund is. Backlund gave up 39 goals this season even strength or short handed. Ryan O Reilly, who won the Selke, gave up 55.

2nd or 3rd line, he easily provides enough goal differential to be a key piece on a winning team.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I think he's a great second line centre. I also think this team would be much better if we can drop him down to the third line and replace him on the second line with Lindholm. Having Lindholm play first line right wing is overkill in my mind. Ryan would be a great fourth line centre and Jankowski would be a great AHL top line centre where he belongs.

The question then is who do you put on top line right wing? Here are your current options. Let me know which one makes the first line better, or even as close as Lindholm:

Frolik
Neal
Czarnik
Bennett

Herein lies the problem. Yes, perhaps Backlund is better suited to a 3rd line role, but he's pretty dang good as a 2nd line center. Doing what you want would reduce Backlund's minutes and give more minutes to lesser players on the wing on both the 1st and 2nd lines. The only way it works is if you roll 4 lines evenly all the time, and not many teams do that anymore because your stars are paid to produce.

[Lanny_McDonald]

A slightly over-rated fan favorite on the Calgary Flames. A really good third line center, or a middling 2nd line center. Consistency is not his middle name, but he gets the job done. The fans here love him, but fans of other teams are "meh" over our Swedish center. A gentleman of high character & charisma, and the chicks dig him. He may be Calgary's version of the most interesting man in the world.

[CroFlames]

3rd line center with a 1st line wife. Heyo

[Reggie Dunlop]

Tillie Ann's Papa?

[Freeway]

He's finished 4th, 13th and 8th in Selke voting each of the past three seasons. I'd say he's alright.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Originally Posted by Locke

Yes, yes, but Why is Backlund? That...is the question!

Did you really go back and edit your post 6 minutes after Locke already made the joke?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Did you really go back and edit your post 6 minutes after Locke already made the joke?

No, I couldn't get it to work right away. Had to edit to fix the image link.

I'm lame, but I'm not that lame.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Did you really go back and edit your post 6 minutes after Locke already made the joke?

Yes. Yes he did.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

No, I couldn't get it to work right away. Had to edit to fix the image link.

I'm lame, but I'm not that lame.

working to confirm

[Hockeyguy15]

He didn't edit it, he adjusted it.

[flamesgod]

I really wish Where R U Chris O’sullivan was still around. I’d like to rub his nose in it!

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Unfortunately they don’t award the Stanley Cup for being “as good as you get for 16.5 mil.”

The Flames are weak at center for a team that is looking to win. For a bubble team just looking to make the playoffs they’re pretty good, I suppose.

2nd overall, first in the West. They're a "bubble team" all right, I suppose.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by the2bears

2nd overall, first in the West. They're a "bubble team" all right, I suppose.

Played like a bubble team in the playoffs, which is all that matters at this point.

[Geeoff]

I think Backlund is good but most teams that win the cup have two centers better than Backlund

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by nik-

Played like a bubble team in the playoffs, which is all that matters at this point.

So did TB. They are surely a bubble team too.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So did TB. They are surely a bubble team too.

I guess if that makes you feel better, go with that.

Lets see who's more likely to repeat their place in the standings next year.

[Monahammer]

I think our terminology is dated. 2C and 3C should be relatively interchangeable, and that is where our problem lies. The layout of an NHL team is now closer to:

First line- this is where your star offensive power is

Middle 6- One offensive geared line and a shut down line

Bottom line- Speed and grit to take advantage of opponents weaknesses.

Right now we have:
- Monahan, who (inspite of what some ridiculous posters will advance) fits this role well. Over a ppg this season, and good for 30+ goals.
- Backlund, a perfect middle 6 C, especially helming the defensive line.
-Ryan, again, a perfect fit as the bottom line C who can take advantage of other teams weaknesses.
- Jankowski, who ostensibly should have been the middle 6 "offensive" C (see stapling of Neal to his side as an example.)

The big weakness was Jankowski. So it's not a "Backlund isn't good enough" thing, it's a "Jankowski was bloody terrible 5v5" thing.

The above is also why drafting and failing to develop Sam Bennett is the largest failure this franchise has succumbed to in the last decade. If Sam had become even a slightly better centre than Backlund (which was far less than he was billed to be and seemed like a safe floor bet at the time...) we would not be talking about this problem. Bennett should at least be a Kadri level player by now, and he's not really close.

[Brick]

Backlund is a 3rd line two way center playing on the 2nd line because of faulty roster construction. He is not able to produce needed points when the 1st line goes quiet.
He lacks offensive creativity and finish.

Tkachuk needs a creative offensive center to play with going forward.