[Rumour] Backlund leaning towards not re-signing with Flames

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by traptor

This legit?

I wonder if these guys deciding to not re-sign will start swaying lindy to not re-sign.

Really awkward place to be in going into the season if true.

Potentially going into a season two key guys who have outwardly said they're not coming back cant be good for the locker room

I'm not 100% sure, because this site requires subscription to see the entire article, and I don't speak Swedish. That said, I've seen it a few times in the last couple of hours .

[Moneyhands23]

Wow that's a pretty big piece of news. I'm thinking Backs already knows what Lindys choice is.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

https://twitter.com/user/status/1680923306357129217

I didn't see if this was posted, but there are multiple tweets on Backlund doing an interview in Sweden, where he says he has chosen not to re-sign. At least we have a difinitive answer.

The article is from July 10th. I would assume that this is a translation issue more than anything else. Probably more like "This is a difficult decision we are making about re-signing" as opposed to "it was a difficult decision to not re-sign".



I just figured that if Backlund had decided on July 10th to not re-sign with the Flames, that we would have heard about it. Maybe we haven't. I guess we will find out soon.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

The article is from July 10th. I would assume that this is a translation issue more than anything else. Probably more like "This is a difficult decision we are making about re-signing" as opposed to "it was a difficult decision to not re-sign".



I just figured that if Backlund had decided on July 10th to not re-sign with the Flames, that we would have heard about it. Maybe we haven't. I guess we will find out soon.

Yes, it definitely could be, and I thought of it. I didn't see it was from the 10th. I figured I'd post it anyways and let our resident Swedes shed some light on the matter.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

https://twitter.com/user/status/1680923306357129217

I didn't see if this was posted, but there are multiple tweets on Backlund doing an interview in Sweden, where he says he has chosen not to re-sign. At least we have a difinitive answer.

From the Twitter inside man just now:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1680951766777749509

[Enoch Root]

I think Backlund is perfectly suited to be a deadline trade - would cost a team very little (next to nothing, if the Flames retained some), and is a solid and versatile 2/3 C who can be used in all situations, including playing with elite talent.

Any team that thinks they have a legit shot this year would LOVE to add Backlund for the run. If you already have strong depth at C, this makes you insanely deep

[Enoch Root]

Just thinking a little more on it, if the Kings are playing well this year, and staring at another matchup with Edmonton (where your #1 requirement is center depth), adding Backlund is a dream. And we all know how he feels about the Oilers.

[powderjunkie]

There is a big difference between unwilling to re-sign and unwilling to re-sign the offer currently on the table.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Backlund is perfectly suited to be a deadline trade - would cost a team very little (next to nothing, if the Flames retained some), and is a solid and versatile 2/3 C who can be used in all situations, including playing with elite talent.

Any team that thinks they have a legit shot this year would LOVE to add Backlund for the run. If you already have strong depth at C, this makes you insanely deep

I agree with this. My only problem is flames aren’t rebuilding. They don’t need to have backs, lindholm and hanifin trade distractions going into camp and season. It really sucks that this off season the market for players went to crap.

[jlh2640]

Backlund should be offered an extension. 2 years even. But if he isn’t going to sign then let him play out his deal and see what happens. I’m not as worried about losing these guys. We lost Johnny because of too many mistakes. If the trade market isn’t good right now. Then these guys can play the year out.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Eric Staal age 35 march 26 2021 trade from Buffalo to Montreal in mid-season, half salary retained for a 3rd and a 5th

Man if we only had some other way to measure hockey players value than age!

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think if the Flames are battling for the division then yes, they probably keep Backlund and he probably will sign a team friendly deal to stay, if the Flames look like contenders he will stick around. If the team is not in it though or even just battling for a wildcard I think you will see this regime willing to part with him for futures.

Man i absolutely love your timing. 2 posts before the revelation that he has already decided not to re-sign in Calgary.

Gold. Total gold.

[Sylvanfan]

There is risk with trading at the deadline for sure. But come that time it's a lot easier for teams to eat salary to help bring a second team into play to facilitate a deal. So getting a team to take on a 1.4 cap hit who likely already could be using LTIR is a more flexible move. A 2nd team will eat 350k to get a 3rd or 4th round pick. To eat 1.4 ish today...better be a good pick. Plus with only 3 such slots available per team, I think teams will hold out to later in the season to committ those.

[gvitaly]

Out of curiosity, how many of you attribute Backlund's offensive success last season to Huberdeau?

Sutter did end up playing them together quite a bit last year, and Backlund had a career year offensively. It just seems to be a popular take right now that age is just a number for Backlund, and he will continue to perform at a high level, much like Gio.

I admit that I didn't research it, and the Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman line seemed more effective on both ends of the ice. So was Huberdeau a contributing factor, or just a coincidence?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

There is a big difference between unwilling to re-sign and unwilling to re-sign the offer currently on the table.

This is all the Flames that "want out" except maybe Hanifin

Of course the Oilers fanboy media is all

"Broke the Flames"

[Macho0978]

If Backlund won't sign, I still trade him now. If the return is a 4th now but you might get a 2nd at the deadline, that is a much better return. But I do think having a year with a new younger player on the roster and driving the value of our first up is more valuable than maybe getting a 2nd at the deadline.

Toffoli out
Hanifin likely

If Lindholm does not sign this team is going to be a non-playoff team.

If all these guys won't resign, you have to think Murray will give Conroy 1 year to clean things up with a retool.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Out of curiosity, how many of you attribute Backlund's offensive success last season to Huberdeau?

Sutter did end up playing them together quite a bit last year, and Backlund had a career year offensively. It just seems to be a popular take right now that age is just a number for Backlund, and he will continue to perform at a high level, much like Gio.

I admit that I didn't research it, and the Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman line seemed more effective on both ends of the ice. So was Huberdeau a contributing factor, or just a coincidence?

They were really successful together but didn’t actually play much together. I believe 6 of Backlund’s points came with Huberdeau, but they only played around 70 minutes together.

For perspective, he was about half as productive with Mangiapane/Coleman, but they played together over 400 minutes. Over 80% of his production came without Huberdeau.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

There is a big difference between unwilling to re-sign and unwilling to re-sign the offer currently on the table.

Depends if the ask is reasonable and extends to other teams.

If he will only stay in calgary if he's getting 5x5 but will play somewhere else for 2x3.5 the I would argue that he is unwilling to re-sign here.

[Samonadreau]

The problem isnt the return the team would get waiting until the deadline, it's if the team is on the bubble or in a playoff spot heading up to the deadline. Then what??

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Out of curiosity, how many of you attribute Backlund's offensive success last season to Huberdeau?

Sutter did end up playing them together quite a bit last year, and Backlund had a career year offensively. It just seems to be a popular take right now that age is just a number for Backlund, and he will continue to perform at a high level, much like Gio.

I admit that I didn't research it, and the Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman line seemed more effective on both ends of the ice. So was Huberdeau a contributing factor, or just a coincidence?

If you click on Line Combinations, you can see TOI of line combos and points

Huberdeau did not make a materially different contribution than the Coleman - Mang line

https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/...ikael-backlund


I do find it interesting that Backlund had ES (or ES plus shorthanded) productivity on par with Lindholm. And as we all know, while Toffoli had a career year, his slotting on PP1 made that happen


Backlund has always been deployed as a middle 6 C here. Incredibly reliable and effective consistently. Played the hardest matchups but never got the point boost that PP1 guys get.

I was hoping to see him spend his entire career here