Is it time to trade Mikael Backlund?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

He was downright awful, on one shift, one brutal very bad shift mind you. Hartley is hard on the young guys, that's his style apparently because I don't see vets like Glencross, Jones, Galliardi etc benched after similar bad shifts leading to a goal.

It wasn't one shift, he had another terrible defensive play in the first period. And another, maybe this one is nitpicking, with the puck right in front of the net wide open he missed it on a scramble and I think Jones bailed him and Berra out. The play wasn't Backlund's fault but if the puck went in he may have been benched in the first period instead of third...

And more importantly it hasn't been one game. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills everytime someone talks about his defensive game lately. Early on it looked like he would make a great defensive player, and with offense could make a two-way threat, his offense hasn't arrived yet but I was never too concerned with that. More important to not be a defensive liability at a younger age, but the problem is he's regressed defensively. Maybe it's Hartley, maybe it's the pressure that he's now a 'vet' but the guy has had terrible defensive game after terrible defensive game. He gets scratched or has his time reduced and the same posters who preach meritocracy are saying he needs to be in a top 6 role because he's the "future."

I'm not suggesting he has to go, he is afterall under 25, but at the same time he can't keep making these same mistakes every game and expect to play in the top 9 let alone stay in the lineup. If he is part of the future at this point I don't think Hartley is doing a disservice trying to drive the point home with him.

[DropIt]

I predict that if Backlund is traded, he will become the player we wish we never traded.

[Poe969]

and if we keep him, I'll predict that he becomes the player that we wish we would have traded.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Oling_Roachinen, Backlund is still prone to mistakes but overall I really like his defensive game, though obviously it hasn't been as good as it was earlier this year or last season. It's frustrating because when I see Backlund he's positioning is really fantastic, he has great awareness and a very active stick, he always skates hard to get back on the defensive end. Those things I like and that's why I potentially see an elite defensive center in him. Now I do see what you see at times too though, a guy that does all those things then makes a bonehead mistake (or two or three in a stretch of games) that lead to goals against. But that's why I say potential because I'd like to see him close that gap.

On a game-to-game basis I do still think he's one of the Flames best defensive forwards still, Stajan has been lights out lately so I'll give him the nod currently... but maybe on the Flames that's not saying much.

Hartley has been hard on him, it's rare we've ever seen a player scratched because he's playing too much defense. A guy whose tough on rookies during a rebuild can be frustrating for fans but as we've seen with the Oilers maybe just giving them oodles and oodles of ice time isn't the way to make everyday quality NHL players.

[nightfx]

Originally Posted by DropIt

I predict that if Backlund is traded, he will become the player we wish we never traded.

I always thought a team like Detroit would be able to utilize Backlund's skills effectively. I remember Babcock complimented his play a while back.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by DropIt

I predict that if Backlund is traded, he will become the player we wish we never traded.

I predict if Backlund is traded he will be what he is, a 3rd line C who is mediocre in the dot and inconsistant. I have never seen what others see in him, I think he is the best of Sutter's busts to be quite honest.

[Poe969]

Agreed. Like I siad in the other thread, a package of Brodie + Backlund should be dangled; they're not horrible players and they're affordable.

I like Backlund and all but he is replaceable.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Agreed. Like I siad in the other thread, a package of Brodie + Backlund should be dangled; they're not horrible players and they're affordable.

I like Backlund and all but he is replaceable.

This kills the rebuild.

[Poe969]

Depends what you get for them don't you think?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Depends what you get for them don't you think?

Sure, of course but it's really weird. They are 24 and 23 years old, I'm sure the next batch of young players are "expendable" too but are you going to keep trading guys about to hit their peak for... what?

Of course depends what you get, but seems really weird that you'd want to "dangle" those players.

[Hatter]

I'd hang on to him. His value is almost nothing, and he's cost efficient for his defensive play and random bouts of offensive ability.

As long as we don't have better centres to replace him, why not hang in there and hope he gets better? I don't think Knight, Reinhart, or Granlund would be adequate replacements for Backlund at this stage of their careers.

[superfarmer]

He has very little value. May as well hang on to him and see if he becomes an effective third liner

[thymebalm]

I disagree that he has very little value. Any team using advanced stats would go moneyball on a kid like Backlund. All he needs in the right system/coach in my opinion. He's smart, he's skilled, speed/size not an issue. Combination of bad luck/linemates is why Backlund is suffering in the counting stats.

[superfarmer]

Advanced stats.... That's a stretch. He's soft on the puck and very inconsistent

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by superfarmer

He has very little value. May as well hang on to him and see if he becomes an effective third liner

If knight can come in and do Backlund's role better, no point in keeping him. His value will not increase in the press box, plus it holds back a player better suited for that role. He's a tweener, not good enough for top six and game doesn't lend itself to a bottom six role.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by supertroller

Advanced stats.... That's a stretch. He's soft on the puck and very inconsistent

fixed your username for you.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by superfarmer

Advanced stats.... That's a stretch. He's soft on the puck and very inconsistent

It's not a stretch at all.

The kid is an excellent "low events" player. Nothing happens for either team when he is on the ice.

His linemates put a barely adequate number of shots on net, and the opposition puts very few shots on net. This coming from a guy who has the hardest zone starts on the team, and faces the hardest competition.

It's not once or twice, it's a clear trend across his entire NHL career, even when he is "struggling" (although his advanced stats this season *do* reflect the fact that he has regressed a bit defensively this season).

[superfarmer]

Just what we need a low events player

[superfarmer]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

fixed your username for you.

Intelligent

[Sylvanfan]

What is the difference between Backlund and Andrew Cogliano? I think Cogliano had done more atthe NHL level when he was traded. He went for a 2nd round pick in a draft 2 years away when he was dealt. Today he is a good third liner for Anaheim. I think Backlund could be much the same, so do you move that out today for a 2nd round pick in 2014? I'm not too keen on it.