[Francis - Rumour/Speculation] Expect next Captain to be Rasmus Andersson

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Locke

Really? Why?

Its one of the major issues this team has had for years. They sleep through periods until something wakes them up.

Showing up not ready to play, go down a couple and then 'turn it on.'

I think its definitely an issue and the only coach I've seen recently that really dealt with it, oddly enough, was Hartley.

I think you'd need to spend months following another team as emotionally and carefully to gain certainty that it's unique to Calgary and not something seen in every market.

The will of the opposition.
The grind of a season.

You're going to see ups and down for every team in every sport.

Not sure it's a Flames issue to be honest.

(caveat on that Kadri shift towards the end of the season)

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I disagree. Backlund is a better two way player and he is definitely more durable but he is not as talented offensively as Johansen. I think Backlund going forward is going to regress offesuvely every year, he is a 3rd line C at this point.

Johansen’s offence is only marginally better and a lot of that is opportunity. He also looked to hit a wall last year. And while everyone keeps predicting a Backlund slide, it hasn’t happened yet.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I disagree. Backlund is a better two way player and he is definitely more durable but he is not as talented offensively as Johansen. I think Backlund going forward is going to regress offesuvely every year, he is a 3rd line C at this point.

At this point, hey? Well, let's look at the most recent evidence that we have...

Points: T-3rd
EVP: T-2nd
+/-: 1st (by a lot)
TOI: 2nd (among forwards)
League-wide, he was 49th in points, among Cs, and 50th in EVP (avg 2nd liner)

He just had his best season, so that effusive(?) regression is nowhere to be seen yet. He has played about 900 games, including playoffs - that is about 250 games less than the oft-compared Staal. And he is in phenomenal shape, with a very tight injury history.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I disagree. Backlund is a better two way player and he is definitely more durable but he is not as talented offensively as Johansen. I think Backlund going forward is going to regress offesuvely every year, he is a 3rd line C at this point.

We have been hearing about this regression to start every season since Backlund signed his last contract. I still don't see it on the horizon.

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[Enoch Root]

EVP, last 3 seasons...

Johansen: 0.395
Backlund: 0.440

[Bingo]

I don't have a problem with anyone worrying about tacking on more seasons to a 35 year old ... that's a real concern.

But I can't believe there are still those that are trying to marginalize the player for who he is after so many seasons of being the team's 2nd most complete player. Just baffles me.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

EVP, last 3 seasons...

Johansen: 0.395
Backlund: 0.440

And 128th for forwards in that time frame.

32 teams ... that's on average the 4th best forward on the average franchise.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't have a problem with anyone worrying about tacking on more seasons to a 35 year old ... that's a real concern.

But I can't believe there are still those that are trying to marginalize the player for who he is after so many seasons of being the team's 2nd most complete player. Just baffles me.

It is just baffling that after 13 seasons Mikael Backlund has had this "not a second line centre" moniker attached to him at the start of every year. What does he have to do to convince people that he is legitimately a great top-six forward?

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[Flames1217]

Backlund is not a third liner and hasn't been for the past 8-9 seasons.

I get that he is 34 but come on.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It is just baffling that after 13 seasons Mikael Backlund has had this "not a second line centre" moniker attached to him at the start of every year. What does he have to do to convince people that he is legitimately a great top-six forward?

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Play for a different team

[Royle9]

If Backlund signs the 2 year extension it almost certainly comes with the Captaincy.
Otherwise I expect either Anderson or Huberdeau to be named.

A’s: Tanev, Huberdeau, Andersson, Lindholm if it’s Backlund.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It is just baffling that after 13 seasons Mikael Backlund has had this "not a second line centre" moniker attached to him at the start of every year. What does he have to do to convince people that he is legitimately a great top-six forward?

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Exactly.

There are a vocal few that dont like Backlund and try to trot out that same argument every year. Then we bring the numbers and facts into the conversation and they shut up...till the next thread that Backlund is mentioned.

I went back and read the thread when Backs signed his last 6 year contract. It's too long! Those last 2-3 years are going to be a disaster! When infact he just put up career highs.

The guy is so underrated by so many. His line is always top 5 in the NHL in advanced stats, does all the heavy lifting, still puts up solid points, has continually made his linemates better, plays the most crucial position, plays in every situation, does HUGE work in the community and as the oldest player on the roster still finishes 2nd in fitness testing.

We are obviously going to have a bunch of young players on the team this year and going forward. Backlund is the example you want those young guys emulating on and off the ice to become a complete professional.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't have a problem with anyone worrying about tacking on more seasons to a 35 year old ... that's a real concern.

But I can't believe there are still those that are trying to marginalize the player for who he is after so many seasons of being the team's 2nd most complete player. Just baffles me.

Caveat: the CBA extension in 2020 made it so that, for most 35+ deals, the contract disappears if a player retires midway through a multi-year deal.


So the (financial) risk of a longer deal for 35+ players is somewhat diminished.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I hope that Huberdeau, Weegar and Kadri are this effective at the same age. I also think the risk is somewhat mitigated by the fact that Backlund takes his off-season training seriously (2nd fittest Flame) and has avoided significant injury in the last few seasons.


I think looking at his utilization and importance on the team, I am really ok with an extension (and I am all for a rebuild here). I would love to have a player in the modern era have a long career for the Flames and retire as one. When was the last one? Loob? Maybe some people don't place any value on it, but I do. I also think that his cap hit is likely to not become a burden over the seasons, as he is paid primarily to be a two-way shut-down centre (which he is absolutely elite at), and not someone who needs to put up 'x' amount of points offering little else. His leadership also has a lot of value.


I am definitely ok with re-signing Backlund at this time.


I also look at it like this in a way:
Long-term 7 or 8 year deals are scary to me still. If there could be a caveat where there was some team option in which they could judge the last year or two of the player's performance, and be able to cancel that contract in case significant regression was evident, then those contracts would be more palatable and less risky to me. Of course that will never happen. However, that's how I am looking at Backlund's extension in a way - the team got a sneak peak at how much regression is creeping up, and he just his career high in points, and his second best in +/-, on a team with many players who struggled this year. Do I expect him to keep it up for the next 4 seasons? No. However, I do think that 2x or 3x5 is a fair deal, and one with acceptable risk.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

At this point, hey? Well, let's look at the most recent evidence that we have...

Points: T-3rd
EVP: T-2nd
+/-: 1st (by a lot)
TOI: 2nd (among forwards)
League-wide, he was 49th in points, among Cs, and 50th in EVP (avg 2nd liner)

He just had his best season, so that effusive(?) regression is nowhere to be seen yet. He has played about 900 games, including playoffs - that is about 250 games less than the oft-compared Staal. And he is in phenomenal shape, with a very tight injury history.

He had one season, last year where everybody else struggled where he put up those kind of numbers. It is like saying Cheechoo was a guy that could get you 50+ goals a year. Backlund is a 35-40 point guy going forward. It is just what he is. The fact you think he is not going to start regressing at 35 like every player does means nothing.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It is just baffling that after 13 seasons Mikael Backlund has had this "not a second line centre" moniker attached to him at the start of every year. What does he have to do to convince people that he is legitimately a great top-six forward?

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Put up top 6 numbers more than one season?

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Put up top 6 numbers more than one season?

How about the last 5 straight. C'mon

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

How about the last 5 straight. C'mon

Sure, on a bottom feeder. Those are not top 6 numbers on a contending team.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

He had one season, last year where everybody else struggled where he put up those kind of numbers. It is like saying Cheechoo was a guy that could get you 50+ goals a year. Backlund is a 35-40 point guy going forward. It is just what he is. The fact you think he is not going to start regressing at 35 like every player does means nothing.

When did I say I don't think he is going to regress (I didn't)? I just don't think he is about to fall off a cliff, like you do.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Sure, on a bottom feeder. Those are not top 6 numbers on a contending team.

see post 307

it just baffles me how people will continue to post something, AFTER others keep proving them wrong