Re-sign Backlund Thread

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Can someone show his possession stats this year versus last? Curious because scoring wise he’s on the same pace as last year. I do agree that he doesnt ‘seem’ to be as important this year as last year, just wondering if there are any stats that show that? Still been an important player and it would be a horrible blunder to not resign him in my opinion (unless it means that hell has frozen over and Tavares signs here). He’s a -5 but I dont take that stat very seriously.

A summary:

16/17: CF% 53.9, CF%rel 5.1, oZS% 34.1, dZS% 65.9

17/18: CF% 53.1, CF%rel 1.9, oZS% 40.2, dZS% 59.8

Not terribly different, but in general he's not standing out quite as much. I agree that he needs to be re-signed, simply can't be replaced in-house.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm hoping they actually keep Jagr. I believe he's been behind the 8 ball in terms of readiness all season, but he can help offensively.

I think if they get him healthy and he can find his groove he can bring the level he brought in Florida. I don't think he's fallen off a cliff but he was inserted into lineup too early and then got injured.

He can create offense and this team will need it.

Oops wrong thread

[killer_carlson]

Trade him to Montreal

[kukkudo]

If Backlund is looking for 6M I rather have ROR at 6.5M. Im pretty sure Buffalo would retain 1M or even more.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

If Backlund is looking for 6M I rather have ROR at 6.5M. Im pretty sure Buffalo would retain 1M or even more.

Backlund would cost nothing but cap space to retain whereas ROR is going to cost an arm and a leg. The decision between them is simple.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Trade him to Montreal

That is the team I am worried about overpaying him in free agency. So desperately needing a centre but why would they give up assets for a player they can sign on July 1st? They are not making the playoffs

[Matty81]

He hasn't looked as good this year as last to me. He's still an above average player with good trade value. I think they need to trade or sign him asap.

I don't care where they are in the race... Letting him walk for nothing would be unforgivable. Paying big prices for rentals has been proven to be pretty stupid most of the time and that would effectively be what they are doing by forgoing the 1st rounder and change he's worth or not just paying the price for his contract and trading him for assets over the next year sometime.

[Stay Golden]

Backlund looked more like a lazy version of Ollie Joker than Backs usually does. Man he was terrible tonight.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Backlund looked more like a lazy version of Ollie Joker than Backs usually does. Man he was terrible tonight.

Every skater was particularly awful.

[Corral]

Be good to keep him. He will be the 3C and faceoff guy in the years that matter here. But thus he needs to be paid accordingly for what he will be in those years. Can't afford to overpay Backlund. He is likely going to ask for too much, and will be traded as a result.

[getoverit]

For a guy with his contract expiring sure playing like crap this year. Not surprised he isn’t resigned yet.

[jlh2640]

He is worth no more than 4-5 million imo. He will get more on the open market but we simply can’t give him more then that

[Ashasx]

I think people are putting to much blame on one player after a bad loss.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Backlund is being over-rated. He’s a very good third line center, but you don’t pay third liners $5-6M on a long term contract and think you’re going to win anything. Backlund is being held up as this awesome two way center, but he’s second worst on the team in +/- at -6, behind the likes of Brouwer and Stajan, and is the worst Flames center in the face of dot at 48.6%. I’d like to keep the guy around, but he is proving to be worth no more than $4-5M per on a shorter term deal, less per on a long term deal.

[Classic_Sniper]

Backlund is extremely important to this team and if the Flames want to contend in the next coming years, they'd be wise to re-sign him. We may have to overpay a bit, but he's the most important center on this team. Monahan and Jankowski have not shown me enough defensively to be effective shut down guys. The Western Conference is full of high end centers and we need to be strong down the middle if we want to be competitive.

I get the dollar value may be a little high, but Treliving has saved a lot of cap space by signing other guys to value deals and Backlund will still be an excellent trade chip if Jankowski ever moves ahead him in the lineup. Retain the asset and get something for him down the road if need be. All I know is, this team is not better without Backlund.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by New Era

Backlund is being over-rated. He’s a very good third line center, but you don’t pay third liners $5-6M on a long term contract and think you’re going to win anything. Backlund is being held up as this awesome two way center, but he’s second worst on the team in +/- at -6, behind the likes of Brouwer and Stajan, and is the worst Flames center in the face of dot at 48.6%. I’d like to keep the guy around, but he is proving to be worth no more than $4-5M per on a shorter term deal, less per on a long term deal.

Yep. I would let him walk if his demands are over $5 million a season. He's already near the end of his prime and he's got one 50 point season in his career. I think he's massively overrated here as if he hit free agency I don't think there's a fan base that would be happy if their team signed him to a $5 x 5 contract as they are going to look at his career stats and say WTF? He's below average at face-offs so he's already down a point in what an ideal checking center brings to the table and he's just not good enough offensively to warrant big money. He's a solid player but you can't overpay these guys and I expect the reason he hasn't been extended is because the organization is having a tough time justifying paying him big money for a long term. I feel Treliving will get him signed to a contract under $5 million a season.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by New Era

Backlund is being held up as this awesome two way center, but he’s second worst on the team in +/- at -6, behind the likes of Brouwer and Stajan, and is the worst Flames center in the face of dot at 48.6%.

If these are the methods being used to evaluate Backlund's defensive capability, which is inarguably great, then this thread is truly lost.

If you can get Backlund for $5 million for any length, you do that ASAP. Anyone who thinks otherwise here is simply wrong.

[Vinny01]

I agree with those that think Backlund has been massively overrated by Flames fans over the past 3 years. He has been great in his role but paying him 6x6 would be a disaster. I suggested we trade him in the summer but Bennett did not step up as a centre Like I hoped. I have read posts on HF where Flames fans embarrassingly state that Backlund is better and more important to this team than Monahan. That is a fanboy comment if I ever read it

Losing Backlund for nothing would be awful considering this team has very little in terms of picks. If he wants to go to free agency I would roll the dice and move him for the best return possible and let Bennett try and hang with Tkachuk and Frolik. Give that line less defensive responsibility than they have now and see if they can put up some numbers.

I hope a reasonable deal is reached but I look out east to Montreal who likely is not going to strip it down and will look to retool this summer. They are in desperate need of a top 6 Centre and have cap space to overpay Backlund. This is Backlunds best shot at a payday if he decides to do what his in his best financial interests he will move on. If he feels this team Is on the verge of winning the cup, and loves Calgary he may sacrifice a few million dollars to stay?

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I agree with those that think Backlund has been massively overrated by Flames fans over the past 3 years. He has been great in his role but paying him 6x6 would be a disaster. I suggested we trade him in the summer but Bennett did not step up as a centre Like I hoped. I have read posts on HF where Flames fans embarrassingly state that Backlund is better and more important to this team than Monahan. That is a fanboy comment if I ever read it

Losing Backlund for nothing would be awful considering this team has very little in terms of picks. If he wants to go to free agency I would roll the dice and move him for the best return possible and let Bennett try and hang with Tkachuk and Frolik. Give that line less defensive responsibility than they have now and see if they can put up some numbers.

I hope a reasonable deal is reached but I look out east to Montreal who likely is not going to strip it down and will look to retool this summer. They are in desperate need of a top 6 Centre and have cap space to overpay Backlund. This is Backlunds best shot at a payday if he decides to do what his in his best financial interests he will move on. If he feels this team Is on the verge of winning the cup, and loves Calgary he may sacrifice a few million dollars to stay?

I think the market has shown Backlund what he's worth (Turris got 6M for 6 years), and Backlund settling for anything (significantly) less seems unlikely. So Backlund has to look at that. If Tavares re-signs, Backlund becomes THE free agent this summer. That's a big deal of a player. With that in mind, coupled with the lack of a new contract, and lack of known talks, leads me to believe we will see Backs move on prior to the trade deadline.

I don't think Tree ends up letting Backlund go for free - and I think it's why we kicked tires on Turris, and I also think the reason we were scouting Buffalo was because Reinhart's name had hit the rumour mill. If Tree sees Monahan as the 1C, Jankowski as the 2C - Reinhart could be the 3rd line centre he covets.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I don't think Tree ends up letting Backlund go for free - and I think it's why we kicked tired on Turris, and why I believe with Reinhart's name out there, why we were scouting Buffalo.

The lack of a new contract, and lack of known talks, leads me to believe we will see Backs move on prior to the trade deadline.

I tend to agree with you. I think it will depend on the position of the team at the deadline. If they are pushing for the division then I could see them holding onto him. If they lose them they can justify the loss by not adding a rental player at the deadline. Almost like Backlund is that rental player. If things are a little more touch and go I could see Treliving pushing to get assets for Backlund so the team is in better position to improve this summer.

It is interesting the FAN almost never discusses Backlind moving on or potentially being trade bait even though he is a pending UFA without a contract on a team without picks in the top 3 rounds (assuming they make playoffs)