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

[Redlan]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

That’s silly

Backlund has faced the top opponents night in and night out and has done an excellent job, no matter his linemates. He also has a healthy dislike for the provincial rivals

He captained his national team to gold but the old codger coaching here felt that he would rather have no captain at all

Nobody here knows the actual problems in the room so nobody can know the likelihood of them being solved

He has a legitimate decision to make, and it has a lot to do with his age, years left, and the Stanley Cup

The team does need players who are among the best in the league at their role

We are talking about different things. Backlund has been a very good player and he can look after his own interests however he sees fit, as is his right but I am talking about leadership. Age, years left, personal achievements, linemates are not things that single out a leader. A leader should be dragging everyone into battle or unifying a team, what better opportunity than last year to do it?

Connie gave up the captaincy to Iginla, when Iginla left, one player was unequivocally selected, by all players, to be the leader/captain. There has been a strong leadership void since Gio was taken in the expansion draft. From what I have heard and read, Backlund was a good buffer but he would not be in the same class as some of the best captains of this team. A leader would have taken the high road and not sulked in the exit press availability or complained about the leadership of the coach to the press. A leader would have united the team despite the coach, would have made players accountable if they were not and had the support of the rest of the team. I get the frustration, I was frustrated. But this was not the reaction I would expect from the leadership group. Could you see Iginla or Giordano have the same comments in the offseason? Absolutely not. As far as we can tell, the Flames have made the appropriate changes to address the concerns of the players. This team needs leaders, who want to be here and want to be the difference.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I think I can muster 100% GAF for 17:13 a few times a week.

I’ll take it that you’re being somewhat facetious, but an NHLers work duties extend far beyond their average ice time/game. It’s probably a lot more than the public knows or appreciates.

Practice, off ice sessions, training, medical, travel, volunteering……

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’ll take it that you’re being somewhat facetious, but an NHLers work duties extend far beyond their average ice time/game. It’s probably a lot more than the public knows or appreciates.

Practice, off ice sessions, training, medical, travel, volunteering……

No I'm not. When you're playing the game you better be giving it 100% for those 17 mins.

If you need to lower your GAF during practice, off ice sessions, training, medical, travel, volunteering etc in order to give 100% during the execution of the entire point of it all then so be it. If you can't channel your GAF for 17 minutes a few times a week then go drive Uber.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Kadri had a bad end to the season with a team in turmoil

boggles my mind how everyone hates him now...guy was a major contributor to a cup winner a year ago and scored over 100 point pace

Preach.

Fans are so entitled these days. You pay for a ticket to watch the Calgary Flames. The team could roster giraffes on skates and that would fulfill their commitment to you. Expecting Kadri to play at 100% every night is ludicrous and not part of any obligation.

EDIT:

The only people that Kadri owes playing at a 100% for is his teammates. Even that's contentious if he doesn't get along with them or buy in to the team concept. Hopefully whatever issues there were...are now resolved and he can focus on the game.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Fans can feel whatever they like

Tkachuk mailed in the bubble season
Gaudreau took a lot of games off seemingly

sometimes there is more to it, I think Kadri gets an extra bad rap for some reason...he is a guy that has played his balls off most of his career

Unfortunately race plays a role with the hate he receives (I'm not talking about CP, just in general).

Talking to a few players I know on the Flames they said Kadri should've sat out after the big hit he took against the NYR. But he wouldn't and played even though he was hurt (to be clear it wasn't a concussion). He was fine up until that point.

He's good friends with Makar (they've been hanging out since Kadri got into town, and they always stay in touch during the season) So he will be instrumental in bringing Makar home in the summer of 2027.

[timun]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Fans are so entitled these days. You pay for a ticket to watch the Calgary Flames. The team could roster giraffes on skates and that would fulfill their commitment to you. Expecting Kadri to play at 100% every night is ludicrous and not part of any obligation.

The only people that Kadri owes playing at a 100% for is his teammates. Even that's contentious if he doesn't get along with them or buy in to the team concept.

The Calgary Flames are obliged to do whatever it takes to earn fan interest and revenue, and having players show effort is a perfectly acceptable fan criterion. Let's say I go to a couple movies in theatres and notice a particular actor seeming to be phoning in their performances; by your line of thinking if I tell you "those movies kinda sucked, that one actor in particular is bad" that makes me "entitled"? That's nuts. It's perfectly reasonable. If the Calgary Flames want me to watch their product you're god-damned right I expect them to be trying their hardest at all times.



If you just sit there and accept whatever crap the Calgary Flames or any other sports team see fit to put in front of you, you are masochists and suckers.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

No I'm not. When you're playing the game you better be giving it 100% for those 17 mins.

If you need to lower your GAF during practice, off ice sessions, training, medical, travel, volunteering etc in order to give 100% during the execution of the entire point of it all then so be it. If you can't channel your GAF for 17 minutes a few times a week then go drive Uber.

Are you conflating GAF with 100% (whatever that means)? I’m sure Kadri does GAF. You don’t get to or accomplish what he had in his career with out it. I doubt he decided just to stop one day for whatever unknown reasons.

Sitting in the stands and saying ‘this guy is giving 100% and this guy isn’t’ is a pretty flimsy position to take. Did Kadri play poorly for a period of time, yeah, that could be argued. But saying that was because he didn’t care is a different argument all together.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Talking to a few players I know on the Flames they said Kadri should've sat out after the big hit he took against the NYR. But he wouldn't and played even though he was hurt (to be clear it wasn't a concussion). He was fine up until that point.

I've said this before, but the team should taking the long view (which coincidentally, maximizes their assets) and shutting players down when this is the case.

You might not make the playoffs without broken Kadri playing (oh wait, we still didn't), but if you do, you're better off going into the playoffs with healthy Kadri than broken Kadri. It also gives a young kid a chance to contribute so you can see what they're made of - or for somebody to step up. Hopefully this changes under Conroy and Huska.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Are you conflating GAF with 100% (whatever that means)? I’m sure Kadri does GAF. You don’t get to or accomplish what he had in his career with out it. I doubt he decided just to stop one day for whatever unknown reasons.

Sitting in the stands and saying ‘this guy is giving 100% and this guy isn’t’ is a pretty flimsy position to take. Did Kadri play poorly for a period of time, yeah, that could be argued. But saying that was because he didn’t care is a different argument all together.

Uh what? It was your words. Maybe you need to put more than your less than 50% GAF effort into this conversation.

Originally Posted by TOfan

What’s your GAF meter at work? 100% all times, always?

Hockey players are human beings too.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Torture

I've said this before, but the team should taking the long view (which coincidentally, maximizes their assets) and shutting players down when this is the case.

You might not make the playoffs without broken Kadri playing (oh wait, we still didn't), but if you do, you're better off going into the playoffs with healthy Kadri than broken Kadri. It also gives a young kid a chance to contribute so you can see what they're made of - or for somebody to step up. Hopefully this changes under Conroy and Huska.

As a trainer or doctor you can only do so much. A player can pass all the tests and be medically cleared but still be banged up, and it's up to them to say I can't play. Hockey culture needs to change. The suck it up, be a warrior, go out and play needs to be phased out of the game.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Uh what? It was your words. Maybe you need to put more than your less than 50% GAF effort into this conversation.

Read it again. I didn’t say GAF and 100% are the same. Caring and effort can be two different things.

Unless I’ve missed something, and that’s possible, but I believe you’re saying they are the same thing.

You are right on this though, I certainly am not giving my 100% effort towards this conversation nor do I really GAF.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Read it again. I didn’t say GAF and 100% are the same. Caring and effort can be two different things.

Unless I’ve missed something, and that’s possible, but I believe you’re saying they are the same thing.

You are right on this though, I certainly am not giving my 100% effort towards this conversation nor do I really GAF.

Trust me, it shows.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by timun

If the Calgary Flames want me to watch their product you're god-damned right I expect them to be trying their hardest at all times.

I don't know about Canada but it can't be that much different. Here in the US, I have personally been at parties with current active athletes in MLB, NHL, NBA until 5-6 am in the morning and they have played the next day. I am quite sure they weren't at 100% as I certainly wasn't the next day let alone play a sport at a major level. My knowledge is that this is pretty common in the regular season. As playoffs roll around, obviously things get a bit tighter.

So good luck with your expectations.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Are you conflating GAF with 100% (whatever that means)? I’m sure Kadri does GAF. You don’t get to or accomplish what he had in his career with out it. I doubt he decided just to stop one day for whatever unknown reasons.

Sitting in the stands and saying ‘this guy is giving 100% and this guy isn’t’ is a pretty flimsy position to take. Did Kadri play poorly for a period of time, yeah, that could be argued. But saying that was because he didn’t care is a different argument all together.

And all of the "supposed to try hard" stuff can get overwhelmed by other life things. And sometimes brain farts happen, or a player tries too hard and grips the stick.

Did I like that game where Kadri looked so bad and caused 2 goals? No. Did I think it was because he'd given up on the team? No. He kjust had two massive screwups.

[DazzlinDino]

Hopefully everyone shows up to play. Not much room for excuses as changes have been made. Conroy at the end of the season did say players who are getting paid need to earn that paycheck.

[Iggy Snipe]

Hopefully the Flames can get some value for Backlund, and trade him before the season starts to a contender. Backlund wants to win, and he is certainly not worth big money and term he may demand this late in his career. Backlund will be missed for sure, but the Flames have never made it past the second round with him in the line up. He isn’t part of the re build or re tool, unless it’s on a short term contract.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Iggy Snipe

Hopefully the Flames can get some value for Backlund, and trade him before the season starts to a contender. Backlund wants to win, and he is certainly not worth big money and term he may demand this late in his career. Backlund will be missed for sure, but the Flames have never made it past the second round with him in the line up. He isn’t part of the re build or re tool, unless it’s on a short term contract.

436 guys have played for the Flames in the last 33 years, and only ~25 have made it past the second round with the Flames (plus however many carried over from '89).

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

436 guys have played for the Flames in the last 33 years, and only ~25 have made it past the second round with the Flames (plus however many carried over from '89).

That is… bad.

[Iggy Snipe]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

436 guys have played for the Flames in the last 33 years, and only ~25 have made it past the second round with the Flames (plus however many carried over from '89).

Yep terrible hockey club.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Iggy Snipe

Hopefully the Flames can get some value for Backlund, and trade him before the season starts to a contender. Backlund wants to win, and he is certainly not worth big money and term he may demand this late in his career. Backlund will be missed for sure, but the Flames have never made it past the second round with him in the line up. He isn’t part of the re build or re tool, unless it’s on a short term contract.

What I have heard in regards to Backlund is besides Colorado poking around there has been nothing else out there. Unless something comes out of left field I would expect Backlund to start the year in Calgary. If the Flames are struggling he will probably garner the interest he isn't getting now at the trade deadline. If the Flames are competitive they probably just keep him for the playoff run and then say goodbye and thanks for all the fish.