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

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

How would it be fair? He's 25 years old, injury prone, has consistently had difficulty holding down a spot on a bad team, and underperformed when given opportunities. Teams don't just throw away second round picks for that.

You only have to look as far as our own roster to see what that kind of player can return in a trade - when Feaster flipped a 4th rounder for TJ Galiardi.

Hear, hear. My thoughts exactly. And, hey, if he does start playing well for another coach all of a sudden, good for him. Means that he's been on a wrong team all along.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

...This wasn't my fire, I was replying to a poster who was going to ignore a post of reason, because the post of reason poster got his age wrong.

Yeah and I was responding directly to your fanning the flames.

[bubbsy]

if there is value there, no brainer to move him. i don't think he's got top6 offensive talent, and don't think he's a checking line guy either.

i really thought he'd gravitate to one or the other (solid scoring line center or checking line center) but he doesn't fit either role thus far. if the value is right, i wouldn't mind seeing him moved. though i would be disappointed in backlund, thought he'd amount to more..

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if there is value there, no brainer to move him. i don't think he's got top6 offensive talent, and don't think he's a checking line guy either.

Why isn't he a checking line guy?

I'd like to either Backlund or Colborne shifted to the wing, and if it's Backlund I see no reason why he can't be an excellent two-way defensive winger like Marcus Nilson was for us. Good speed, good puck skills, got a fiestyness to his game when he's on, has some flash but not enough for top 6 role.

It seems like you can't become that player with the team that drafted you though. Draft expectations leads to trades if they're not meet. Nilson's NHL career was cut short by that knee injury tough, was a shadow of himself after that. Still, before that he was a greatly effective player for the Flames.

A lot of parallels there actually.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Yeah and I was responding directly to your fanning the flames.

Then yes, I would too say he's 25 as he will turn this during this season.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Then yes, I would too say he's 25 as he will turn this during this season.

Nope, that's not how age is documented in professional hockey.

[underGRADFlame]

Maybe Backlund requested a trade?

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Why isn't he a checking line guy?

I'd like to either Backlund or Colborne shifted to the wing, and if it's Backlund I see no reason why he can't be an excellent two-way defensive winger like Marcus Nilson was for us. Good speed, good puck skills, got a fiestyness to his game when he's on, has some flash but not enough for top 6 role.

It seems like you can't become that player with the team that drafted you though. Draft expectations leads to trades if they're not meet. Nilson's NHL career was cut short by that knee injury tough, was a shadow of himself after that. Still, before that he was a greatly effective player for the Flames.

A lot of parallels there actually.

good points.

i just feel that even if the flames feel he is a 3rd line winger type player, the backlund camp may be more interested in seeing what free agency brings.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Why isn't he a checking line guy?

Plays small, can't win a faceoff to save his life and oft-injured. If we have to put up with these 3 attributes then at least we need that player to be gritty/hard to play against.

He's a victim of specialization, but mostly his inability to produce points which would at least put him in the conversation for 3rd Line Centre.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Plays small, can't win a faceoff to save his life and oft-injured. If we have to put up with these 3 attributes then at least we need that player to be gritty/hard to play against.

He's a victim of specialization, but mostly his inability to produce points which would at least put him in the conversation for 3rd Line Centre.

You missed the rest of my post. We get it, you have an irrational hate for the player. It's super odd but try to step back from the ledge a bit.

[thymebalm]

Tonight, Backlund had his linemates bumped up from McGrattan and Jackman to Blair Jones and Lance Bouma and he managed an assist.

There is a role of Backlund on this squad, and unless the return is high, we are worse without him.

2:30 SH time, 4 hits, 1 assist, +1

He's old news with Baertschi and Monahan and that's one reason why people are so uptight about him.. but he's still worthy of being on this roster.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

You missed the rest of my post. We get it, you have an irrational hate for the player. It's super odd but try to step back from the ledge a bit.

I had absolutely nothing for or against the player until 4 years ago, when 95% of CP named him the prodigal son.

-There has never been a season
-There hasn't been a month
-There hasn't even been back to back games?

Where you could honestly find glimpses of true hope for the future from him. It's not your fault, the flames hadn't had a drafted forward to think about in over a decade prior - he was hope and need (all in 1).

Every game he plays now, it starts with being pointless (tonight was a rarity), a large negative ration on FOW vs. FOL. 10 minutes of ice time and generally a -1 rating.

He's on pace for 7 goals and 26 points, but this only galvanizes the apologists, who are sure he's hard done by..

1) He's our 4th Centre because there are 3 that are better above him (That speaks volumes on a rebuilding team???)
2) He's not producing because he's not a scorer or playmaker
3) He doesn't bring physicality, but still gets injured.

As said, if he's your PK specialist....he has to be able to win a faceoff.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I like Backlund, always have, for whatever that's worth. Heck, 24/25 whatever, he's still quite young but you can start to see him hit his ceiling as an NHL player. I'm more concerned with his wildly inconsistent offense, and as others have pointed out, he's not ever going to be a top 6 forward on most teams. But I will say he's incredibly effective in his own zone and can be a good forechecker that creates havoc in the o-zone, yet rarely capitalizes on his opportunities. He's a good positional center, but poor at face-offs. He's energetic but gets pushed off the puck easily at times. Like many of our players, he has excellent elements to his game but some glaring holes as well. Overall, I love his attitude and his effort most nights. He is the kind of guy that does all the little things well but it doesn't show up on the score sheet.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that if he's traded, he will likely not get the return he should because he isn't a sexy player. In that situation, along with his age, I'd rather stick with him until someone literally steals his job away. It might not be too much longer anyway.

Argh…I don't know what to do with Backlund. He's a very vexing player.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Dion

To get the extra players we needed to win the Cup. Rob Ramage on defence and Rick Walmsley as a solid backup for Vernon.

Fletcher said at the press conf that the Flames knew they were trading away a player who would probably score 50 or more goals in a season. The deal was made as the 2 players acquired were the missing pieces mgnt felt could get them over the top and the Cup.

To add to this, Peter mahar said once that other GMs (glen Sather), disputed the trade with the NHL for being too one-sided in the flames favor ("basically handing them the cup"). Funny how time and perspective changes.

[TurnedTheCorner]

The discussion made me curious enough to go look up Baclklund's faceoff stats:

Season	GP	FOW	FOL	Tot	FO%	SHFOW	SHFOL	SHTot	SH%
09-10	23	102	89	191	53.4	0	0	0	N/A
10-11	73	319	345	664	48.0	17	33	50	34.0
11-12	41	225	271	496	45.4	22	32	54	40.7
12-13	32	194	213	407	47.7	3	7	10	30.0
13-14	22	131	153	284	46.1	25	23	48	52.1
Avg	38	194	214	408	48.1	13	19	32	39.2

The best and worst faceoff guys of the last 15+ years are listed here. The best win >55% of the time, the worst win <44% of the time.

Backlund seems to be middle of the pack on faceoffs, perhaps bottom third. He has a terrible track record on short handed faceoffs.

FWIW.

[FAN]

Prior to this season I was one of those posters who questioned Backlund's upside and thought Feaster should look towards trading him if the right trade was there. But I think it's too late now. I'm probably wrong here, but I don't see Backlund having much trade value at this present time as his slow start to the season has really stunted any hope that Backlund was about to blossom so there's no point trading him now.

I honestly thought that Backlund would find himself outside of the NHL by age 30, but I saw some positive improvements from Backlund last season to suggest that if he can stay healthy he can be a strong possession player. At $1.5M cap hit for this season and the next and an RFA after that, Backlund's contract is a good one even for a player who can drive possession from the 3rd line and fill in among the top 6 when needed.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by FAN

Prior to this season I was one of those posters who questioned Backlund's upside and thought Feaster should look towards trading him if the right trade was there. But I think it's too late now. I'm probably wrong here, but I don't see Backlund having much trade value at this present time as his slow start to the season has really stunted any hope that Backlund was about to blossom so there's no point trading him now.

I honestly thought that Backlund would find himself outside of the NHL by age 30, but I saw some positive improvements from Backlund last season to suggest that if he can stay healthy he can be a strong possession player. At $1.5M cap hit for this season and the next and an RFA after that, Backlund's contract is a good one even for a player who can drive possession from the 3rd line and fill in among the top 6 when needed.

Outside of point production and face-offs (weaknesses already going into the season) Backlund hasn't been poor. He still drives possession. I don't think he has lost (nor gained) value.

But I would keep. Our biggest asset is time right now. Lets see what he becomes. We aren't going to get the 1st we used to acquire him back, so lets see what he becomes...

[Wolfman]

I feel Backlund would do better in the East personally. Not as physical and he can play his offensive style better there. I know he's highly valued in this organization, but I don't see a great return for him. I know when this does happen there will be some upset people on this board who overvalue Backlund. He's injury prone, hasn't performed to a 1st round pick potential and he's not very gritty. We'll see what type of return he garners but don't be surprised if it's not that spectacular.

Like I said earlier he is overvalued here.

[FBI]

We are the worst team defensively in the league. Lets trade one of our top defensive forwards!

[Gord Wappel]

I am certainly not a fan of Backlund and don't think he has produced at a top 6 level but if Fleury is laughing at this pick then he is a bigger idiot than I thought.

I don't think Fleury is an idiot. You have to be a bit crazy to make it in NHL at his size.
He could have been mayor of Toronto instead.
he questioned wisdom of overlooking players (like him) who had produced at a well above a point a game pace in very demanding - and tough physically - league like WHL... in order to pick unproven "projected" Euro golden-boy projects... and U.S. high schoolers
e.g. Nikolas Sundblad 1st round 1991 (2 NHL games , 0 points)
Jesper Mattson 1st round 1993 (0 NHL games)

In retrospect the flames would probably have drafted better if they let Fleury make all the picks.