[GT] Ovechkin vs. The Flames

[Rhett44]

I don't think Backlund is a bad captain but not even sure how you can judge that.

His play on the ice has nose dived lately though. Getting old.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I have not liked him at all on the PP all season. Unfortunately our lack of C depth doesn't give a lot of options.

Ya, he doesn’t need to be out there though. No idea why Kuzmenko wasn’t on that second unit at the end, right before the breakaway goal. Instead put Backlund and Pospisil out there. Silly

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I don't think Backlund is a bad captain but not even sure how you can judge that.

His play on the ice has nose dived lately though. Getting old.

That’s why I don’t want him back here next year.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I don't think Backlund is a bad captain but not even sure how you can judge that.

His play on the ice has nose dived lately though. Getting old.

He got his last contract and is now mailing it in. Needs to wake up and start hustling again.

[skcli]

It is a shame that Backlund’s play has dropped off a cliff. You hardly notice him carry any plan any more,

He should not be back next year.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by skcli

It is a shame that Backlund’s play has dropped off a cliff. You hardly notice him carry any plan any more,

He should not be back next year.

He’s the weak link on that line now imo.

[SuperMatt18]

Backlund Continues to lead the team in xGF% and is second in GF% at 5v5

He's not as good as he once was but the decline is being overstated. At his age he's also being asked to do way too much of the heavy lifting on this team.

He should be nowhere near a PP unit though.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Backlund Continues to lead the team in xGF% and is second in GF% at 5v5

He's not as good as he once was but the decline is being overstated. At his age he's also being asked to do way too much of the heavy lifting on this team.

He should be nowhere near a PP unit though.

I think he can still be effective, needs a lesser role though. He looks wore out.

[browna]

Backlund has always played around the edges and very soft (in the name of defensive positioning) and avoids body contact at great lengths and all costs now and takes wide loops when taking shots on net or passes and stays out of the corner. He was behind both defenseman with Coleman was getting double teamed beside the net tonight.

That softness in the name of defensive positioning is fine for the PK and 3 on 3 but when you're down by 1 on late PP and are centering a PP unit, playing soft isn't an option. When he gets into traffic he handles the puck like a grenade because he is not at all comfortable in high traffic areas at all.

[TheScorpion]

The downside of the Flames loading up their fourth line with lunks is they don't really have all that many natural PP2 options. Backlund shouldn't be there but when the alternative is Clark Bishop ...

This is why Kerins and Stromgren should be up and playing. You don't need Lomberg in every night, and you certainly don't need any more of Adam Klapka.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

The downside of the Flames loading up their fourth line with lunks is they don't really have all that many natural PP2 options. Backlund shouldn't be there but when the alternative is Clark Bishop ...

This is why Kerins and Stromgren should be up and playing. You don't need Lomberg in every night, and you certainly don't need any more of Adam Klapka.

If anything would lose the room....sitting this guy would be top of the list.

He has done nothing but give it his all for his team mates. I think they need more of those types.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by transplant99

If anything would lose the room....sitting this guy would be top of the list.

He has done nothing but give it his all for his team mates. I think they need more of those types.

Problem is - Lomberg’s all isn’t very good. He can fight (but loses a lot because he’s small) and he has good wheels. But not that good defensively and zero offence.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Problem is - Lomberg’s all isn’t very good. He can fight (but loses a lot because he’s small) and he has good wheels. But not that good defensively and zero offence.

He drags his team into the fight in many games and isn't that really all he's being asked to do? He was good enough to play every game for the cup winners last year in a similar role so I think that speaks volumes.

As much as Wolf is the reason the team is where it is now, Lomberg has played a part in getting the team going on many nights where it doesn't quite have it and this is something that was sorely missing the last 2-3 seasons.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

He drags his team into the fight in many games and isn't that really all he's being asked to do? He was good enough to play every game for the cup winners last year in a similar role so I think that speaks volumes.

As much as Wolf is the reason the team is where it is now, Lomberg has played a part in getting the team going on many nights where it doesn't quite have it and this is something that was sorely missing the last 2-3 seasons.

Well no. He's on the 4th line and they take a lot of defensive responsibilities. Everyone points to Rooney's bad possession stats - Lomberg's are worse.

I can't recall many games where Lomberg - as opposed to one of the young guys or Kadri or Huberdeau, has dragged the team into the fight.

[Jay Random]

The thing about Lomberg is that he doesn't shirk. He plays every game to the best of his admittedly limited abilities. On skill alone he probably doesn't belong on an NHL roster, but every coach wants a guy like that to set an example. Kevin Dahl performed that function for the Flames when Dave King was the coach. He wasn't a good defenceman, but he did everything King asked of him, and King made it clear that every other player was expected to do no less.

I'm sure Huska has often said something like this to players: ‘You're easily better at hockey than Lomberg. Why weren't you better than him last game? If you don't outperform him every night, it's because you're not working hard enough.’