[Rumour] Dreger: Backlund is available. Garrioch: Shane O'Brien available too

[JiriHrdina]

Prediction: to Toronto for Biggs or Percy. Truculence!

[jwags]

Originally Posted by nik-

Will be great when Babcock requests Holland get him and he's embarrassing us for years to come.

Good for him. It's not like he is going to develop into the player he should become here. He just isn't assertive enough. If Mikael was a vampire he'd be the kind that sparkled in the sun. About the only scenario I can see him succeeding in is Detroit where it's okay to glisten.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

Twenty years of failure. That is what i implied and it is the truth



Once again i only mentioned Button after you pointed out all the people who have changed. Bottom line is that the organization fails time and time again to draft and develop young players.

So TJ Brodie is a failure?

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Robo

How many more opportunities does he need I don't really care if he stays or goes since he's been up I really haven't seen much from him

Over the first 8 games he was averaging just over 19-minutes per game, was on a 0.5 PPG pace, and was averaging almost 3 shots per game. He was a plus player despite shutting down some of the toughest players in the NHL.

Then Stajan came back, the coaches bias kicked in, Backlund had a couple of bad games in a depth role and he found himself on the fourth line.

The first time he was given an opportunity again he got 2-points.

He has been inconsistent. There is no doubting that. He has had a couple of stinker games. A couple of them recently. But he really hasn't been given consistent opportunity either and he is one of the players playing scared because he knows he is a mistake away from the fourth line.

[mustache ride]

Originally Posted by Vox

You are avoiding the gist of your original post, which was that the organization has failed to recognize it had a problem. Fine to feel frustrated that there has been lack of success for 20 years, but it seems pretty likely that the organization has recognized and reacted to the problem.

My original post was that after Twenty years of failure the organization needs to take a look at what and how it is drafting and developing young players.
Can a broken philosophy of drafting and developing young players continue through those changes in personal?
Is this just twenty years of bad luck or is there something wrong with Flames approach?

Or to put this in perspective. In the past ten years, with the exception of Dion Phaneuf, Brandon Prust is the most successful Flames draft pick! That is ridiculous and i don't care whose fault it is. Backlund is a symptom of this problem. It is already continuing on to Baertschi and something needs to change.

[Da_Chief]

A trade out of Calgary is best for Backlund and depending on the return for the Flames.

My guess: Sharks. Don't know for what.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Is backlund one of the last of sutter's early round picks?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

My original post was that after Twenty years of failure the organization needs to take a look at what and how it is drafting and developing young players.

Wait a second....you don't think they've done this in the last 2-3 years?

Weisbrod came on board and completely revamped this organizations drafting philosophy.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Detroit has so little cap space they may lose one of their younger guys to waivers if they don't dump cap space soon.

Flames may be able to leverage that to get a better return on Backlund.

I would be down for something like that. Trade Backlund for a guy like Ryan Sproul and then since the wings need cap space we could take on a contract for an additional pick.

[mustache ride]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

So TJ Brodie is a failure?

At this point in their development, Brodie and Backlund have quite a bit in common. A big difference in how they are precieved has to do with Butler being a lightning rod for criticism.

[mustache ride]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Wait a second....you don't think they've done this in the last 2-3 years?

Weisbrod came on board and completely revamped this organizations drafting philosophy.

We are not that far away from the days of people talking about how our drafting has really turned around and penciling in Negrin and Pelech into our top four. I will wait for actual success before handing out credit for a turn around this time.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

We are not that far away from the days of people talking about how our drafting has really turned around and penciling in Negrin and Pelech into our top four. I will wait for actual success before handing out credit for a turn around this time.

I will also wait to hand out credit for a turn around, (because it hasn't happened at the NHL level yet) but in the mean time how about we refrain from asking them to change their drafting and development philosophy when they just did a couple seasons ago.

When it's drafting and development you're talking about, you have to wait to see the end results, good or bad.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

At this point in their development, Brodie and Backlund have quite a bit in common. A big difference in how they are precieved has to do with Butler being a lightning rod for criticism.

Clear point. I see where you are coming from. While Brodie has been helped by the swallow depth in the Flames defense, Backlund has been pressured by slowly increasing depth down the middle.

Flames draft development has a checkered past. I think it's trending upward on the whole. Backlund is just one player.

[moon]

Originally Posted by lifetimefan

Um, yeah. No one won that trade.

The Leafs just made the play-offs for first time in 7 years and top 3 in the East thus year with Phaneuf as captain and their number 1 defenseman. He was invited to the Canada Olympic camp this summer.

Pretty sure the Leafs are happy with their return and tough to say they didn't win.

[moon]

Not sure why Detroit would be interested in Backlund when they are already having trouble getting their equally skilled (if not more) guys in there already.

Also not sure why a guy who has never shown at any level the offensive ability to be a top 6 player would suddenly turn into one once leaving Calgary.

[cowtown75]

It's not surprising at all. Someone needs to get moved at center and he is a good chip to move. May be part of a package deal.

[Vinny01]

Hope he is part of a package with Cammy + cap space for a clear win trade for the Flames

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by moon

Not sure why Detroit would be interested in Backlund when they are already having trouble getting their equally skilled (if not more) guys in there already.

Also not sure why a guy who has never shown at any level the offensive ability to be a top 6 player would suddenly turn into one once leaving Calgary.

Not sure,, Brett Hull, Martin St. Louis, Marc Savard may have something to say about that though.

[Ashasx]

I just think it's going to be a huge mistake to trade Backlund. We'll never get his true value in return.

[mustache ride]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Not sure,, Brett Hull, Martin St. Louis, Marc Savard may have something to say about that though.

Hull had scored 25 goals the season he was traded and Savard had back to back 20 goal seasons. Nothing in common with Backlund!