[GDT] Flames @ Predators 6:00 PM, 1800h on SNW - RADIO SN960

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Wowzers! I see no one else has concerns with a 2C that has 12 goals on the year. My mistake. Carry on.

His production is significantly lower than almost every 2C in the playoffs and in several cases the 3C on other teams.

I get that he is really good defensively and usually matches up well against other team's top guys. My only concern this year is whether we are going to get the secondary scoring we need when the ice shrinks a bit for the top line. I think we will, but a deep run will require Backlund to be a big contributor IMO.

In a perfect world he would be our 3C so I get the concern and agree with you.

The worst part is that 2nd line has been fairly stagnant offensively for weeks and we are going to need to get Mangiapane and Toffoli going offensively, especially at ES, to make some noise in the playoffs.

Most ppl around here won't allow you to talk about Backlund not being good enough offensively because of the other things he provides but I agree we need to see more out of him if we want to be successful.

Time will tell. We have dark horse Ruzicka waiting in the wings if push comes to shove but Backs will continue to get plenty of opportunity to develop chemistry with his 2nd line wingers.

Hopefully it starts to click here for them soon.

[Red_Baron]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

I get that he is really good defensively and usually matches up well against other team's top guys. My only concern this year is whether we are going to get the secondary scoring we need when the ice shrinks a bit for the top line. I think we will, but a deep run will require Backlund to be a big contributor IMO.

Let the top line worry about their own production, let the 2nd line do what they do-which is produce more goals than the other team's first line.

[Gaudfather]

Darryl Sutter - "Winning hardens you"!

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Darryl Sutter - "Winning hardens you"!

[GS Skier]

Old drag racing saying: "Ya gotta run what ya brung" No one cares if your car broke. Sucked to be you.

Since the trade deadline this is it. Don't like Backlund? Better hope your wrong and he plays well. Can't change a thing now so enjoy it. If Sutter's system and the way he pushes the buttons on this team is everything its cracked up to be then who cares who they play in the first round.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Wowzers! I see no one else has concerns with a 2C that has 12 goals on the year. My mistake. Carry on.

His production is significantly lower than almost every 2C in the playoffs and in several cases the 3C on other teams.

I get that he is really good defensively and usually matches up well against other team's top guys. My only concern this year is whether we are going to get the secondary scoring we need when the ice shrinks a bit for the top line. I think we will, but a deep run will require Backlund to be a big contributor IMO.

What if we make the Backlund line the 3rd line and the 3rd line the first line and the first line the second line? Then we'd have an awesome 2nd line.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Wowzers! I see no one else has concerns with a 2C that has 12 goals on the year. My mistake. Carry on.

His production is significantly lower than almost every 2C in the playoffs and in several cases the 3C on other teams.

I get that he is really good defensively and usually matches up well against other team's top guys. My only concern this year is whether we are going to get the secondary scoring we need when the ice shrinks a bit for the top line. I think we will, but a deep run will require Backlund to be a big contributor IMO.

It's a team game. It is pointless to look at one player and say they aren't as good as they need to be, you have to look at the whole group.

The Flames have one of the most productive sets of wingers in the league - probably the most productive, with two 40 goal guys and a 35 goal guy. With Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Mangiapane, Toffoli, Dube, and Coleman, not to mention Lindholm on the top line, they don't need production from Backlund and Jarnkrok, they just need them to play a good two-way game.

And that is what they are doing. The Flames are 6th in goals per game. Sixth. And they are 3rd in goals against.

But Backlund is a problem because he doesn't score enough. Yeah, okay.