Backing Backlund - Page 8 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

calgarywinning · 02-02-2014, 02:57 AM

Backs last year was being pushed off the puck daily. He could be there too long. He was small, he was trying to fish a play. He's one of the most reformed player on the Flames. I know some of you want to pick Butler after his fight tonight and a couple of assists. However, Backlund is really been coming into his own. Shout out to Bouma who played amazing tonight.

Textcritic · 02-02-2014, 03:16 AM

^
I'm not sure I agree with all of that. In my opinion, Backlund was one of the tougher players on last year's team, and I don't recall him being pushed off the puck with exceptional regularity.

He was starting to show signs last year, and is now really starting to come into form.

indes · 02-02-2014, 03:29 AM

I've been a big backlund guy for a while and even voted 60pts in that poll we had, but man has he ever turned it on. He's really starting to come into his own and using the tools he has in his toolbox. He's not small by any means but was playing small and it hindered his play in a big way. Now that he's "breaking out" so to say, he's been playing like he's 6' 200lbs he's been giving himself the opportunities to utilise the skill he has.

FlameZilla · 02-02-2014, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Is it just me or do Swedes seem to be late bloomers in the NHL? Backlund would not be the first Swede to really hit his stride around 25. Naslund was up and down until around 25, same with Zetterberg, same with the Sedins. Not saying he is going to be a superstar, but it seems like Swedes take a little longer. If he turns into a 50-60 point two way forward that is pretty good for a 2nd line center.

I've always had that in the back of my mind. Naslund was labelled a bust early on, but when he finally started scoring for those pesky Canucks he was about 23 or 24. Sedins were a similar age before they really picked it up.

To clarify, I don't think Backs is an elite Swedish superstar talent, but he's making the case that he could be a top 6 player in the NHL – which happens to be what he was projected to be. It's just taking him a little longer to get there.

bubbsy · 02-02-2014, 07:36 AM

nice to finally see backlund put things together. I hope he's going to solidify himself as the flames 2nd line C in the upcoming years.

I think we'll see our C depth chart as the following next year:
monahan
backlund
stajan
knight/granlund/reinhart

foshizzle11 · 02-02-2014, 08:26 AM

That OT goal was brilliant last night. What a beauty saucer pass to Monahan and an elite skill to finish the play off knocking it out of mid air. Can't ask for much more.

Random question but why was Sean and Backs, two centers out together in OT?

Lanny_McDonald · 02-02-2014, 08:29 AM

Backlund is going to light up the KHL next season.

BurningSteel · 02-02-2014, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

.

Random question but why was Sean and Backs, two centers out together in OT?

\

Better than Westgarth and Grats

moon · 02-02-2014, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Who are these 'people in the hockey world' that you are talking about? I would love to know.

The hockey people that didn't hire him for 5 years while he was out of the NHL and had to have his buddy hire him back.

JiriHrdina · 02-02-2014, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

The hockey people that didn't hire him for 5 years while he was out of the NHL and had to have his buddy hire him back.

Or there are only 30 head coaching jobs and a five year gap isn't huge.

moon · 02-02-2014, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Or there are only 30 head coaching jobs and a five year gap isn't huge.

It is a pretty long gap and who knows how long it would have gone on, likely forever, if he wasn't hired because he is buddies with Feaster.

JiriHrdina · 02-02-2014, 08:57 AM

Lots of GMs hire coaches that they know and have a relationship with.

strombad · 02-02-2014, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

The hockey people that didn't hire him for 5 years while he was out of the NHL and had to have his buddy hire him back.

Huh? Sutter, Maurice, Nolan, Therrien all had extended gaps while not coaching.

Sutter was hired by his buddy Lombardi, so it's not like you're making a point about Hartley.

GreenLantern · 02-02-2014, 09:47 AM

Every time I see this thread I read it as Breaking Bad.

Flamefan1 · 02-02-2014, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Era

Backlund is going to light up the KHL next season.

I am not sure why New Era and Moon are allowed to post on CalgaryPuck as they certainly are not Flames fans. Great to see Backlund prove to the skeptics that he is currently the best center on this team. Stajan is fine in a 3rd role.

Vinny01 · 02-02-2014, 10:43 AM

It is not uncommon for Swedes to take until their mid 20's to really start producing. The twins were 40-50pt a year guys when they were Backlunds age. The Flames look set at C for the next few years with Monahan, Stajan, and Backlund. Hopefully Knight makes the team next year and if the Flesm draft Reinhrt or Bennett let them develop in jr another year

Mass_nerder · 02-02-2014, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamefan1

I am not sure why New Era and Moon allowed to post on CalgaryPuck as they certainly are not Flames fans. Great to see Backlund prove to the skeptics that he is currently the best center on this team. Stajan is fine in a 3rd role.

Green text when someone is being facetious. He's mocking a user, whereruchrisosullivan (sp?) who is adamant that backlund is not of nhl calibre, and will be playing khl in (insert year here).
He keeps pushing back the year backlund will be out of the nhl though.

Cali Panthers Fan · 02-02-2014, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Assuming Backlund stays healthy, I project him to be a 40-45point, 15-20goal scorer.

I said earlier in this thread I would like to see a 3yr contract for 6-8M(total). But it might take 10M to get it done. At his age I don't think he's in his prime yet. And I really do think he could be a flame when they turn the corner.

Backlund is starting to remind me a lot of Ryan Callahan, who is currently seeking a $42 M contract over 6 years for his 40-50 points per year and playing a strong defensive game despite being a little small. Callahan is 28 years old and coming off a 3 year deal at $4 M per year and is now commanding a lot more (mostly because he scores quite a few goals over assists). If Backlund finishes the year strong he give the Flames a reason to lock him up long term. If he plays well through the first half of next year as well, I think you would be foolish not to lock him up for 7 years at $3-4 M per year. That way he won't pull a Callahan and ransom the team long term. At the very least he has a tradeable contract if we need to move him in 3-4 years to make room for one of our top prospects.

If I'm Burke or the new GM I have time to think about what to do with Backlund, but not forever. He's incredibly cheap right now at $1.5 M for what he does. He's going to be due for a significant raise next year sometime.

Gaskal · 02-02-2014, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamefan1

I am not sure why New Era and Moon are allowed to post on CalgaryPuck as they certainly are not Flames fans. Great to see Backlund prove to the skeptics that he is currently the best center on this team. Stajan is fine in a 3rd role.

Think of green text as figurative [sarcasm][/sarcasm] tags. Don't worry I'm newer so I fell for it too.

SofaProfessor · 02-02-2014, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

That OT goal was brilliant last night. What a beauty saucer pass to Monahan and an elite skill to finish the play off knocking it out of mid air. Can't ask for much more.

Random question but why was Sean and Backs, two centers out together in OT?

I can't answer that but the line before them was Stemps and Cammy. No centres there.