Lets Talk About Mr. Backlund

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Psytic

5 million is a discount ?? 4.2 for me on a 4 year

If Backlund plays this way for the rest of this season I'd say he can get more than 5 on the open market. Him and Frolik are the only reason the Flames were in a position to fight back into playoff position while everyone else sucked transitioning to a new system.

He's better offensively and comparative defensively to Frolik who is making 4.3mil all while being younger and playing a more important position than Frolik. And I don't think anyone is complaining about Frolik's contract except the Jets because their GM didn't offer the same deal.

He's better than Monahan at everything except goals and face-offs. Still manages similar point totals while playing unprecedented defensive minutes against the leagues top players. Also a top penalty killer who has managed more short handed chances than the Flames were managing on the power play earlier in the season.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

He's better offensively and comparative defensively to Frolik who is making 4.3mil all while being younger and playing a more important position than Frolik. And I don't think anyone is complaining about Frolik's contract except the Jets because their GM didn't offer the same deal.

I agree about Backlund - I think teams will make him a better offer than the Flames might be able to afford.

On the bolded part - there are a couple posters here who regularly complain about Frolik's contract.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I agree about Backlund - I think teams will make him a better offer than the Flames might be able to afford.

On the bolded part - there are a couple posters here who regularly complain about Frolik's contract.

Typically this would piss me off.

However, Backlund worked so hard to change his game to make it more complete. He also didn't complain for years on end while being shunted to a bottom 6 role. He also didn't have a proper NHL salary until this year.

Typically first round players like Backlund, particularly those that have high scoring potential in European leagues, act like divas. Backlund's personality is the exact opposite.

I'd feel pretty happy for him, if he cashed in. I always felt bad for what happened to Glencross. I always view team loyalty vs. self-interest as a bit of a balancing act.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by blankall

...
Typically first round players like Backlund, particularly those that have high scoring potential in European leagues, act like divas. ...

Backlund could not have acted like a diva, because he was not playing like a diva, sorry. I know this is not a popular opinion here, but I don't think he played like a solid first-round pick for a long time. He was too soft (got pushed around a lot), too prone to injuries and not too creative with the puck (get into the zone, make a weak shot into a goalie, retreat). There was a lot of talk about the time some players needs to develop etc. But it did take him a very long time.

There was a big change for Backlund in the summer of 2015, I believe, when he added lots of muscle. I am guessing, right at that same time, he had mentally accepted his role of a 3rd line center and he had become very good at it - being a solid 3rd line center that he is now.

So, what would a good 3rd line center be worth next season in the open market? I doubt it would be in a $5M ballpark.

[GranteedEV]

10G 13A in 38GP for Backs so far...that's pace for 22G 28A which is firmly 2C production.

He is also 5th among centres in the NHL in CF%.Rel (Score/Zone/Venue-Adjusted). Among the centres ahead of him, Bergeron, Brassard, ROR, J. Staal, only ROR is producing at a better points pace but missed enough games that he will probably have less total points.

Also, among active Selke Trophy winners (Kesler/Kopitar/Toews/Bergeron), only Kesler is outproducing him.

[Samonadreau]

Would you say Frans Nielson is a good comparible? If so anything less then 5M is a discount.

Also there's no way it's less then 4.5. No way Brouwer makes more than Backlund.

5 x 4.75aav would be a good deal for BT.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I like Mikael Backlund.

Mikael Backlund is good at hockey.

Very good at what he does, regardless of draft pedigree.

Can Jankowski replace him? Guess we'll see.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I like Mikael Backlund.

Mikael Backlund is good at hockey.

Very good at what he does, regardless of draft pedigree.

Can Jankowski replace him? Guess we'll see.

Sorry for going off topic, but if Jankowskis trajectory continues, it provides many nice options. One of which would be Bennett at wing. Another would be moving Backlund for a top (or at least top 3) dman.

[Strange Brew]

Backlund has been better than Monahan this year and it's not even that close.

If you can't afford to pay Backlund $5 million or thereabouts then you need to look at moving money elsewhere. Backlund is a much more valuable player than Frolik or Brouwer. Bennett has a ways to go before he proves he is that good. Jankowski yet to prove he is an NHLer.

You build championship teams by being strong down the middle.

[FireGilbert]

Thankfully Stajan's contract expires the same year as Backlund's meaning there should be money for a big raise.

Losing Backlund for nothing as an FA would be a disaster.

[flamesforcup]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Thankfully Stajan's contract expires the same year as Backlund's meaning there should be money for a big raise.

Losing Backlund for nothing as an FA would be a disaster.

Yep. Hopefully we can use some of Stajans money for a raise for Backlund and another #4C. We have Bennett Tkachuk Backlund all needing new contracts soon. We cant afford another big free agent. I wish we ddnt go after Brower so we couldve made a push for Alzner

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

If Backlund plays this way for the rest of this season I'd say he can get more than 5 on the open market. Him and Frolik are the only reason the Flames were in a position to fight back into playoff position while everyone else sucked transitioning to a new system.

He's better offensively and comparative defensively to Frolik who is making 4.3mil all while being younger and playing a more important position than Frolik. And I don't think anyone is complaining about Frolik's contract except the Jets because their GM didn't offer the same deal.

He's better than Monahan at everything except goals and face-offs. Still manages similar point totals while playing unprecedented defensive minutes against the leagues top players. Also a top penalty killer who has managed more short handed chances than the Flames were managing on the power play earlier in the season.

Hes not a free agent signing like Frolik was. I would offer him the same as Frolik though. We still have major holes on this team we need all the cap space we can hang on to imo. He is still more of an elite 3rd line centre imo because hes still a sub 50 point player. If you are paying Tkachuk, Sam maybe even Jank then you need to get a value contract from Backlund. We cant shell out for everyone or we will be stuck with the same team that isnt a contender and no space left to fill holes on defense or RW.

[FlamesFan68]

Backlund is asserting himself after his muscle gain a few years back. I can't call many of his goals Gretzkyesk, but they are much needed goals never the less. Backlund is one of my favorite players just due to the fact he plays for his country whenever they come calling. The same can't be said for other Flames that receive these invites. I believe that is why Edmonton is doing so well, their players are accepting these invites to be on the world stage with top skaters after a long season.

Backlund is closer to being a Selke winner than being a Hart winner. He absolutely deserves the money he makes, Stajan on the other hand, puts in the effort but doesn't get the results Backlund does. I'm hoping Backlund accepts a hometown discount much like Brodie did a few years back. It allows the team to sign the "divas", like the Gaudreau's that a team needs to succeed.

[Gaskal]

I would also keep Backlund on long-term. His contract is done at the same time as these guys; you simply don't bring a few back to make some AAV room. Guessing all of Bouma, Stajan, Macdonald are gone, and we're only talking a 1.5ish million raise for Backlund anyway. He will be 29 and should still be at peak physical form.


Bouma
Stajan
Jankowski
Shinkaruk
Klimchuk
Poirier
Pribyl
Macdonald

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Hes not a free agent signing like Frolik was. I would offer him the same as Frolik though. We still have major holes on this team we need all the cap space we can hang on to imo. He is still more of an elite 3rd line centre imo because hes still a sub 50 point player. If you are paying Tkachuk, Sam maybe even Jank then you need to get a value contract from Backlund. We cant shell out for everyone or we will be stuck with the same team that isnt a contender and no space left to fill holes on defense or RW.

Can we put this "Elite 3rd line Center" garbage to rest already? If Backlund is a 3rd line Center than he's the best in the league by a country mile.

Show me a top-6 center let alone a 3rd line center who faces the same competition as Backlund, starts in the defensive zone as much as Backlund, scores more points than Backlund while against elite defenseman and simultaneously shutting down elite forwards. If anyone who meets that criteria is making under 6 million, that's one hell of a bargain.

And Backlund WILL be a FA once his contract expires so he's essentially in the same situation as Frolik was. He's just younger, better and plays the more important position.

[Bear]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Can we put this "Elite 3rd line Center" garbage to rest already? If Backlund is a 3rd line Center than he's the best in the league by a country mile.

Show me a top-6 center let alone a 3rd line center who faces the same competition as Backlund, starts in the defensive zone as much as Backlund, scores more points than Backlund while against elite defenseman and simultaneously shutting down elite forwards. If anyone who meets that criteria is making under 6 million, that's one hell of a bargain.

And Backlund WILL be a FA once his contract expires so he's essentially in the same situation as Frolik was. He's just younger, better and plays the more important position.

Backlund is a lot closer to being an elite 2nd line centre than he is elite 3rd line centre.

[1qqaaz]

I think Backlund is at least a solid 2nd line center. He's consistent, all-around, and outstanding in the community.

That being said, I also doubt he gets more than 5 million a year.

It's Backlund. I just don't seem him holding out for tons of money, even if he can. If he does become a Selke nominee this year, I can can see him earning more than 5 mill. As of now, he's underrated.

[activeStick]

I actually agree that Backlund is someone the Flames need to keep and re-sign. He's still at a good age and a 5 year deal takes him to 34 which will have him at a high level for the large majority of the term.

He won't come cheap though but I think the Flames ink him for around 5.5.

[TheScorpion]

The two UFA's who I think the Flames need to consider to be of highest priority going forward are Backlund and Versteeg.

They need to sign Versteeg in January 2017, and Backlund in January 2018.

[AC]

I'd wait until after the expansion draft to sign Versteeg. Otherwise we likely lose Ferland.

And no, the team will legitimately never expose Brouwer. The negative impact such a move would have on the team reputation when it comes to future free agents and/or players with no movement/trade clauses ensure that.