Can Ryan take on Backlund’s role; is Backlund who we trade?

[The Cobra]

Backlund is going no where, he is Calgary’s most important defensive forward.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

So your whole problem with Backlund being considered a second line center is his lack of offense.



Yet he finished 40th in even strength points among centers. Lemme do some math here. 31 teams, so that places him 9th when you take out 31. But wait, Draisaitl, Lindholm and Nyquist are listed as centers ahead of him and didn't actually play much center, if any. Maybe even more guys but that's what I knew from skimming the list quickly.



So after you take out the top 31 and then these three guys who didn't actually play center all season Backlund places 6th. So not only in 2nd line production territory but at the top of the list.



2 even strength points less than Patrice Bergeron. 5 less than our own Elias Lindholm. 6 less points than Niklas Backstrom...

It is also worth pointing out that Backlund ranked #44 among all centres in ESTOI/GP last year, which suggests that he is right on track with his production results. However, Backlund ranks #94 among all NHL centres in powerplay avg. TOI (behind Derek Ryan). If there is a problem with Mikael Backlund, it is that he does not get enough quality opportunity, and thus rarely scores on the powerplay. I suspect that is rather because he is so important in short handed situations that it is difficult to find powerplay ice time for him without overloading him entirely. Mikael Backlund’s deployment is in large part a product of roster construction. I have no doubt that he could score more under different circumstances, but that is just not how the Flames are built.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TheScorpion]

I have to wonder if Peters would be willing to try using Backlund more on PP2 this year.

Maybe put Lucic in front of the net, Mangiapane or Bennett on the right flank, Ryan at centre, Backlund on the left flank, and Hanifin on the point? Have the PP sort of run through the left side like it does with Johnny on the first unit?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I have to wonder if Peters would be willing to try using Backlund more on PP2 this year.

Maybe put Lucic in front of the net, Mangiapane or Bennett on the right flank, Ryan at centre, Backlund on the left flank, and Hanifin on the point? Have the PP sort of run through the left side like it does with Johnny on the first unit?

Backlund, , Lucic, Bennett/Maggy, Ryan and Hanifin?

Not exactly an offensive juggernaut.






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Backlund, , Lucic, Bennett/Maggy, Ryan and Hanifin?

Not exactly an offensive juggernaut.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

How many NHL second-units are “offensive juggernauts”? I am honestly curious, but I also think this is probably a key reason for why Backlund’s powerplay numbers are so underwhelming in the first place. The Flames have three or four bonafide top line forwards ahead of him. How many of the higher scoring NHL centres get top-unit deployment?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How many NHL second-units are “offensive juggernauts”? I am honestly curious, but I also think this is probably a key reason for why Backlund’s powerplay numbers are so underwhelming in the first place. The Flames have three or four bonafide top line forwards ahead of him. How many of the higher scoring NHL centres get top-unit deployment?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am not sure, but there isn’t one guy you’ve mentioned that is really known for offensive ability.

But I agree that Backlund. would certainly lead that group.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned already, but removing Backlund from the team would force Peters to play Monahan and the third line in tougher match-ups. Although Monahan's defensive ability is underrated in my own opinion, the top line's stats would take a bit of a hit simply having to start more often in the defensive zone and against better quality of competition. How big of a hit? I have no idea, but their offensive numbers would suffer at least somewhat.


Backlund not only takes the tough match-ups and usually not only stops the opposing team's best lines, but out-scores them while he is at it. It allows for Peters to better match-up lines and better put them in a easier position to succeed. The third line wouldn't be as sheltered as they have been either.


Trading Backlund away adds a tonne of tougher minutes to the rest of the team and removes a lot of flexibility when it comes to line-matching. I love Lindholm, and I definitely see and can even agree with the argument that he should be centring the 2nd line, but it should be with Backlund on the third and having those tough minutes as well.



If Lindholm (or even Bennett - I find myself agreeing with a few posters that would like to see Bennett as a centre for a stretch NOT under Gulutzan to see how he does, and without a Brouwer or a Neal stapled to him) can become a legitimately good 2nd line centre and help to create another scoring line, while having Backlund at the 3rd line spot and Ryan on the 4th line, then this team suddenly becomes that much harder to defend and match-up against. That's an elite centre depth if Lindholm can put up 60+ points as a 2nd line centre, and Backlund gets 40-50pts off that third line while still shutting down top lines.


I don't want to remove a centre off this team. It is the single most difficult forward position to play. Nobody on this team can adequately replace what Backlund brings to this team. I think it will unquestionably weaken this team unnecessarily. I love Hamonic, but I would rather see him go for a draft pick as I feel he can more readily be adequately replaced than Backlund (though I would definitely hate to see him leave for just a pick - he would be easier to replace but the Flames would most assuredly still miss him on and off the ice).


I think Backlund is a critical component of Calgary's success - perhaps one of the 3 or 4 most important players relative to the success of this team.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I am not sure, but there isn’t one guy you’ve mentioned that is really known for offensive ability.

But I agree that Backlund. would certainly lead that group.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

See, offensively I always thought Backlind had a bit of TJ Brodie syndrome where hes a bit too indecisive in the heat of the moment. I think both could be premier producers in the league but the decision making process gets gummed while the puck is on the way to their stick.

Thankfully they dont lose the puck too often from solid puck keeping skills but they really can kill offensive momentum sometimes.

Reminds me a little bit of Tanguay too. I find my self screaming at the tv sometimes like SHOOT or PASS HE IS OPEN!

[blender]

I think Backlund is in a dead heat as The Flames 3rd best player.

You've got Gio and Johnny, then Tkachuk, Monahan and Backlund with very little to seperate them. I actually think this is the reason why the Flames are as good as they are. There is no drop off between their 3rd and 5th best players.

[jayswin]

Johnny
Monahan
Tkachuk
Gio
Probably Backlund

I definitely wouldn't have him in or tied for third.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Johnny
Monahan
Tkachuk
Gio
Probably Backlund

I definitely wouldn't have him in or tied for third.

Gio 4th?

Surprising

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I am not sure, but there isn’t one guy you’ve mentioned that is really known for offensive ability.

But I agree that Backlund. would certainly lead that group.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

This confuses me because I don’t think I have mentioned any specific names beyond a couple players listed as centres who do not play centre, and Derek Ryan, who is a centre that is not as productive as Backlund, and yet logged more PPATOI than Backlund last year.

In the end, I am not sure what pointing to a few players not known for offensive ability really has to do with my point.

Again, how many teams are able to ice a really strong second unit?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Johnny
Monahan
Tkachuk
Gio
Probably Backlund

I definitely wouldn't have him in or tied for third.

I wouldn’t say “tied for third” but I definitely think the separation between forwards in the Flames top six is fairly slight. Tkachuk, Backlund, and Lindholm are all really good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Gio 4th?

Surprising

I was quick with that post and probably mislead. I was just picking the four players I'd put ahead of Backlund, not necessarily in that order.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I wouldn’t say “tied for third” but I definitely think the separation between forwards in the Flames top six is fairly slight. Tkachuk, Backlund, and Lindholm are all really good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh crap, I forgot about Lindholm!

So I'd have..

Johnny
Monahan
Tkachuk
Gio
Lindholm

in some order and then Backlund at 6th.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Oh crap, I forgot about Lindholm!

So I'd have..

Johnny
Monahan
Tkachuk
Gio
Lindholm

in some order and then Backlund at 6th.

Right, but I don’t know how useful a ranking of “sixth” is when the relative gap between him and two other forwards is pretty slim.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Right, but I don’t know how useful a ranking of “sixth” is when the relative gap between him and two other forwards is pretty slim.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not that uselful, I suppose, but I didn't come up with the idea on my own to prove a point. Was just responding to the guy that said Backlund was in a dead heat for third best player (not forward) on the team.

I saw that and thought "no, he's a great player, but I see a clear list ahead of him, I think I'll post it since I'm on a message board, hopefully textcritic doesn't deem it useless. Esepcially on a night with a blazing 20 posts on the entire site for users to digest".

[ricardodw]

So everyone is in solid agreement that Backlund is currently and has ever been better than Brodie?

As well the best defensive player on the team .. ahead of Hamonic and Gio and when playing Edmonton Brodie?

I totally agree that Backlund can not be replaced by Ryan.

It would be equally absurd to imagine that Andersson can replace Brodie on the top defense pairing.

It is very telling that the Flames #1 priority in the off season was looking for a top 2 Centre to move Backlund back in the line-up and not looking for any top-4 D-men.

[TheScorpion]

I don't think anybody in the world thinks Backlund is better defensively than Giordano, ricardo. Nobody has said that.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

...It is very telling that the Flames #1 priority in the off season was looking for a top 2 Centre to move Backlund back in the line-up and not looking for any top-4 D-men.

The Flames were planning to move Backlund down the lineup with the acquisition of Kadri? Are you sure about that?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk