Rhetzky wants to have a chat about the Captain

[Jason14h]

Is isn’t inexplicably. He’s old . It happens

[Bingo]

What's inexplicable is the number of people suggesting he's lost it, when he's clearly still doing the principal job that he's paid for ... goal prevention.

He's 29th for centers in xGA60
He's 10th for center in GA/60
He's 39th in HDCA/60
He's 44th in xGF%

He's not going to win a Selke trophy for sure.

But there are 32 teams and 4 centers per team, and a group of you think he needs to play on the fourth line of the Calgary Flames or be a healthy scratch?

Baffling.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Bingo

What's inexplicable is the number of people suggesting he's lost it, when he's clearly still doing the principal job that he's paid for ... goal prevention.

He's 29th for centers in xGA60
He's 10th for center in GA/60
He's 39th in HDCA/60
He's 44th in xGF%

He's not going to win a Selke trophy for sure.

But there are 32 teams and 4 centers per team, and a group of you think he needs to play on the fourth line of the Calgary Flames or be a healthy scratch?

Baffling.

Its only baffling if you assume we dont put better in his place. The team struggles to score so he is playing 20 a night? He isnt scoring and is not great at face offs but centers second power play that also doesnt score?

At the end of the day for all his defensive prowess our track record over the last few years says a lot. We need a top six center who can at least hit 20 consistently but closer to 30 which backs struggled to do in his prime.

Dont get me wrong i have been a backs fan since he was drafted but its time to move to better.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Its only baffling if you assume we dont put better in his place. The team struggles to score so he is playing 20 a night? He isnt scoring and is not great at face offs but centers second power play that also doesnt score?

At the end of the day for all his defensive prowess our track record over the last few years says a lot. We need a top six center who can at least hit 20 consistently but closer to 30 which backs struggled to do in his prime.

Dont get me wrong i have been a backs fan since he was drafted but its time to move to better.

I love how we went from “Backlund gets a free pass! Fan immunity!” to these meaningless, vague, yet sweeping criticisms suggesting Backlund is somehow individually responsible for the team’s record.

You guys sound absurd.

Backlund, the middle six defensive shutdown center, is not standing in the way of a top six offensive center. Never has.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Its only baffling if you assume we dont put better in his place. The team struggles to score so he is playing 20 a night? He isnt scoring and is not great at face offs but centers second power play that also doesnt score?

At the end of the day for all his defensive prowess our track record over the last few years says a lot. We need a top six center who can at least hit 20 consistently but closer to 30 which backs struggled to do in his prime.

Dont get me wrong i have been a backs fan since he was drafted but its time to move to better.

Who is this 30 goal shutdown centre that is in the wings?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by OminousFlames

Hard to say on this team. I would probably have picked Weegar. Even prior to Backs being captain, I never thought that he was future captain material. Had Tkachuk stayed, he would have been a good choice too.

Tkachuk is way too selfish and also not respected by the reds to be put in that position.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Who is this 30 goal shutdown centre that is in the wings?

I am on the Cozens or Rossi leanings. Either one by middle of next year would be top six with kadri. Use Backs like he should be being used a defensive center getting clutch minutes.

As of right now frost should be playing second line center.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Fan69

I am on the Cozens or Rossi leanings. Either one by middle of next year would be top six with kadri. Use Backs like he should be being used a defensive center getting clutch minutes.

As of right now frost should be playing second line center.

Defensive centres by definition play against the opposition top line. So 20 minutes a night.

None of your guys are shutdown centres. Frost has potential but he's not there yet. Cozens has one more goal than Backlund. And he has bad defensive stats. Rossi? You think Minnie is letting Rossi go? He's their 1C.

[Dan403]

Rhett is a hack.

Worst part of that trio.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Its only baffling if you assume we dont put better in his place. The team struggles to score so he is playing 20 a night? He isnt scoring and is not great at face offs but centers second power play that also doesnt score?

At the end of the day for all his defensive prowess our track record over the last few years says a lot. We need a top six center who can at least hit 20 consistently but closer to 30 which backs struggled to do in his prime.

Dont get me wrong i have been a backs fan since he was drafted but its time to move to better.

I don't like him on the powerplay.

BUT HE IS STILL THE BEST DEFENSIVE CENTER THEY HAVE. ELITE PLAYERS PLAY LOTS OF MINUTES SO HE NEEDS TO PLAY THOSE MINUTES TO MATCH UP.

This is surreal.

[Strange Brew]

Rhett Warrener knows far more about hockey than I ever will. But come on, he doesn't watch games all that closely and a lot of time he is just looking for something to say.

At $4.5 million, Backlund is getting the job done. While its true none of Kadri, Frost or Backlund are elite, I would argue Backlund is doing what is needed more than any of them.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Backlund will be 37 in two weeks, 37 years old. Expecting him to suddenly raise his game is so f'n stupid. Rhett Warrener was six years retired at 37. Backlund isn't a young star player captain, like change expectations.

In 1973 Henri Richard, age 36 was the Captain of the Cup winning Habs. He had 8 goals. He was 10th in points on the team. He was tough but no fighter. Then Cournoyer for the rest of that dynasty's run.

Dustin Brown was captain of the cup winning Kings. Derian Hatcher was captain of the Stars cup winning team.

I suspect Backlund has a lot of off ice captain qualities you don't pick up on - committment to fitness and work ethic for example.

[FBI]

I get that Backlund is still a good defensive center, but Bingo do you not see the drop off?
On pace for worst PPG this year since 2012. Has 0 goals, 1 assist, and -12 in his last 14 games. And has looked slow as molasses.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

In 1973 Henri Richard, age 36 was the Captain of the Cup winning Habs. He had 8 goals. He was 10th in points on the team. He was tough but no fighter. Then Cournoyer for the rest of that dynasty's run.

Dustin Brown was captain of the cup winning Kings. Derian Hatcher was captain of the Stars cup winning team.

I suspect Backlund has a lot of off ice captain qualities you don't pick up on - committment to fitness and work ethic for example.

You are comparing Backlund to Cup winning Catains...lol.

He has only played 42 playoff games in his long career and never won more than 1 game in the second round.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Bingo

What's inexplicable is the number of people suggesting he's lost it, when he's clearly still doing the principal job that he's paid for ... goal prevention.

He's 29th for centers in xGA60
He's 10th for center in GA/60
He's 39th in HDCA/60
He's 44th in xGF%

He's not going to win a Selke trophy for sure.

But there are 32 teams and 4 centers per team, and a group of you think he needs to play on the fourth line of the Calgary Flames or be a healthy scratch?

Baffling.

His career is winding down and next year is probably going to have to be his final one unless he has a resurgence. He's been okay and it's not like another player in his role would vaunt the team into contender status by scoring another 6 goals, so I don't get the criticism either.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

His career is winding down and next year is probably going to have to be his final one unless he has a resurgence. He's been okay and it's not like another player in his role would vaunt the team into contender status by scoring another 6 goals, so I don't get the criticism either.

And I'm good for demoting him to the fourth line ONCE his defensive metrics slip enough that it's warranted.

His past ten years doesn't get him a pass.

His past ten games do.

[Sylvanfan]

Backlund was the one guy who took their money. He does make a premium salary for his role, but to start the season he was 1 of 2 centers the team had who could play more than 15 minutes a night and now he's 1 of 3. He should be transitioning to a mentorship type role, and I'm quite sure Frost was brought in as a possible heir to his role. If they can find another Center for next season to push him down a peg if father time gets him great. Not many 37 year olds still playing in this league.

I guess Warrener thinks Backlund should go on LTIRetirement like he did. He parlayed one decent season with a gutsy cup run into a 4 year 9.2 million dollar contract to be a third pairing defenceman for 154 games over 3 years. I don't doubt he was injured...but that contract was a real gaffe by Darryl.

[HighLifeMan]

To be fair the Backlund criticisms are 100% deserved over the last month and change.

1 point in his last 14 games, and outscored 9-2 at five on five.

He needs to be significantly better in all facets considering the amount of ice time he is getting.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cobra

You are comparing Backlund to Cup winning Catains...lol.

He has only played 42 playoff games in his long career and never won more than 1 game in the second round.

I am, which is entirely the point. If those teams could have a captain that was mid tier offensively and more about being a veteran pro, then so can Calgary.

There's no real need to have your captain be an offensive star. Or get into fights. Backlund consistently plays against the opposition's best guys, and does very well against them. That seems to be pretty impactful to me.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I am, which is entirely the point. If those teams could have a captain that was mid tier offensively and more about being a veteran pro, then so can Calgary.

There's no real need to have your captain be an offensive star. Or get into fights. Backlund consistently plays against the opposition's best guys, and does very well against them. That seems to be pretty impactful to me.

You are correct he is a very average player who is a captain.

But not sure how you can ever compare him to a Cup winning captain because he has never come close.