Where does Backlund fit in your future plans?

[jemjey]

He also has that "upward trajectory" thing we all love so much, going for him.

He's been great for us, getting better, and he's only 25 showing no signs of stopping.

I think he's done enough to "prove" he has "earned" more than 1yr\2m. Also I don't want to have a Subban situation. We are a classy organisation by all accounts, no reason to give him or any player that valuable to us a contract that might be construed as a slap in the face.

[GoJetsGo]

I would say 4x4 is on the high side given the questions surrounding his health.

Were it not for the question marks around his ability to stay healthy, I'd say that figure is on the low side given his growth and output over the last 12 months.

Regardless, it's certainly not ludicrous money given some of the contracts we've seen issued in the last couple years. It's only 1.1 million more than what we gave to Deryk Engelland.

[polak]

He definitely earned a raise and a longer term. He's my favorite Flame (cause he was our 1st round pick the year I would have been draft eligable and he was the first European player we drafted in the first round since I started following the Flames) but I'm not saying we should go too crazy. 3-4 years, 3-4 mill.

His durability is an issue but I still think he has bad luck. None of his issues seem to be reoccuring.

[jemjey]

Also, we just signed stajan for ~3mil for 4yrs. Much as I love him, it would be hard to give Backs less as I think its hard to argue stajan is better or more valuable.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

1 year contract, $2m.

If he can demonstrate he can stay healthy for a year, then sign him to a longer term deal.

I like the guy but you cannot build a team with a player you can only count on for 60 games a season.

I like this much better than 4yrs x $4M. Signing an injury-prone third-line center for a long, expensive contract is too risky and, as mentioned earlier, too resembling of the Stajan's bad contract, which almost everyone here disliked. Even better than another short contract (which could negatively contribute to his confidence level), I would prefer if he's traded at the deadline, while he's healthy and productive.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by devo22

yes, he was outscored by Anton Babchuk in 2010-11. But that has absolutely nothing to do with Backlunds play last season and in the games so far this season, and this is all that matters in contract negotiations going forward. He's improved a lot over the last 4 seasons, I don't think anyone would disagree. He was already a .5 PPG player during the lockout-shortened season and he was again last season. Plus, Backlund means much more to the Flames than just offense. It's his two-way play and his penalty killing that carries a lot of value IMO and the Flames have definitely missed him in that regard this season.

I don't think 4 x 4 for a player like is ludicrous at all in today's NHL (and judging from this thread, it doesn't seem like I'm alone on this), but hey, we'll see.

Your the one that brought up previous career bests...not me. (as for this season...he has played THREE good games)

Yes I agree he is better than he was 4 years ago (as he should be at his age)...and maybe he is going to be what he has been the last 40 or so games played, but that is really all we have as a sample size that he is a guy that can be leaned on as a 2 way/2nd line player. Nothing wrong with making him earn a long term deal as no matter how we look at it, he has not been at that level for anything nearing a full season in consecutive games.

It just scares me to see long term/big money deals handed out at this point to someone who may or may not be who we think he is based on his ability to stay in the line up and show it for any length of time.

[Fire]

If he continues to finish this season strong I wouldn't be upset if they offer him 5 yrs x 4 mill. That will look like a big bargain down the road.

[Enoch Root]

Backlund's PPG over his career (games / points / PPG):

09/10: 23 / 10 / .435
10/11: 73 / 25 / .342
11/12: 41 / 11 / .268
12/13: 32 / 16 / .500
13/14: 76 / 39 / .513
14/15: 14 / 9 / .643 (small sample size)

He has clearly progressed and has maintained at least a half point per game for two and a half calendar years.

[FlameZilla]

The guy has an adamantium set of abs now. No way he ever gets injured again. :

Addressing Backlund's injuries: none of them seem to have changed his style of play. It's not as though he's had loads of concussions or horrific knee injuries. All he needs is luck to stay healthy for the rest of the season.

He deserves to stay around long-term. He deserves to wear an A. He typifies Hartley's up-tempo, high-pressing game and he has a touch of offensive class to boot.

[greentree]

Core.
4yrs x $3.75

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

The salary issue is a tough one because while he's been very good the last 12 months... he hasn't shown he can stay healthy.

A broken finger is a freak accident. The shoulder (same year) was hurt in a fight (assisting a teammate who took a nasty hit). The sports hernia has been replaced by armour. That's it for injuries.

If he gets hurt again, long term, insurance will cover it. It's a non issue for me on a salary front.

If you sign him only for one or two years, you have a UFA on your hands. Better to sign him for a decent term that takes him through a few years of UFAS status. I guarantee you, with his advanced stats, a lot of teams are looking at him. I bet he'd get an offer sheet.

[Gaskal]

3rd line center on a shutdown line.

[N-E-B]

I'd definitely re-sign Backlund, however I would hesitate to say he will be part of our core in the future. I think that title should be reserved for players such as Monahan, Bennett, Poirier, Ortio, and Brodie (Who, as of this year, I would say already is part of our core).

Would love to keep him around as a #3 centre though. $4mil per season might seem high, but with the new CBA everyone seems to be making more, even Engelland makes $2.9mil...

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Your the one that brought up previous career bests...not me. (as for this season...he has played THREE good games)

Yes I agree he is better than he was 4 years ago (as he should be at his age)...and maybe he is going to be what he has been the last 40 or so games played, but that is really all we have as a sample size that he is a guy that can be leaned on as a 2 way/2nd line player. Nothing wrong with making him earn a long term deal as no matter how we look at it, he has not been at that level for anything nearing a full season in consecutive games.

It just scares me to see long term/big money deals handed out at this point to someone who may or may not be who we think he is based on his ability to stay in the line up and show it for any length of time.

It's too bad capgeek is gone or I would direct you there to look at some contracts...

It's not 2004 any more. Four years is no longer considered long term and $4M is no longer big money.

[AcGold]

I bet he gets 3 million x 3 years

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

A broken finger is a freak accident. The shoulder (same year) was hurt in a fight (assisting a teammate who took a nasty hit). The sports hernia has been replaced by armour. That's it for injuries.

This. I wouldn't call Backlund especially injury prone. More unlucky with those types of injuries. However I do think that perception of him would work nicely in favour of the Flames when locking him up at a cap hit that is lower than his actual value.

[SebC]

A one year deal would be stupid as he'd be UFA when it expires.

[getbak]

I'd be very surprised if he's extended for anything less than 3 years. My guess is a 4-year deal with a cap hit between $3.5M and $4M.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

A broken finger is a freak accident. The shoulder (same year) was hurt in a fight (assisting a teammate who took a nasty hit). The sports hernia has been replaced by armour. That's it for injuries.

If he gets hurt again, long term, insurance will cover it. It's a non issue for me on a salary front.

If you sign him only for one or two years, you have a UFA on your hands. Better to sign him for a decent term that takes him through a few years of UFAS status. I guarantee you, with his advanced stats, a lot of teams are looking at him. I bet he'd get an offer sheet.

You misinterpreted what I was getting at. The response pointing out he's been unable to stay healthy wasn't in regard to questioning keeping him. It was with respect offering him 4 million.

I was only pointing out that 4 million might be slightly high given the time missed.

If it were up to me I'd still pay that to keep him long term because I think he's that important.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Buy as many UFA years as you can for cheap. Backlund's good advanced stats will only stay a secret for so long and the league will catch on to the fact he'd be a good value signing. He's the type of unheralded player that helps you win a championship. Think Jarret Stoll, or Dave Bolland, but better offensive skills. He's an excellent 3rd line center or a solid 2nd line center, no doubts about that anymore. Plus, the added benefit of signing a longer term deal at a lower rate means that in the event he doesn't fit in the team's plans, or there's a better, younger prospect that can play for cheaper, it wouldn't be hard to trade him for a nice return. I honestly think that if he finishes the year strong, a contract of 5 years for $4 million/yr. would be prudent. That would take him to 30 at a pretty solid price point. Just don't include a NTC.