2017/2018 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Fire

I could live with $6.0 x 6 yrs like the Turris deal. It's no bargain but the Flames could make it work.

I would rather have Turris for that kind of money. I like Backlund but not nearly as much as many here. Not enough offensive upside IMO and I don't believe in paying $6 million long term for 35-50 point forwards.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I would rather have Turris for that kind of money. I like Backlund but not nearly as much as many here. Not enough offensive upside IMO and I don't believe in paying $6 million long term for 35-50 point forwards.

That's really a oversimplification of what Backlund is.

There isn't a single piece in this organization that can do what Backlund does.

Beyond that, he's consistently healthy, he loves the team, loves the city, and is a great person. You don't trade players like him for the sake of it. The team is better with him on it and gets significantly worse without.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

That's really a oversimplification of what Backlund is.

There isn't a single piece in this organization that can do what Backlund does.

Beyond that, he's consistently healthy, he guy loves the team, loves the city, and is a great person. You don't trade players like him for the sake of it. The team is better with him on it and gets significantly worse without.

You also don't overpay him for being a nice guy on and off the ice. I wouldn't trade him if the team is in a playoff spot but I would think long and hard about not overpaying him before July 1st.

[The Yen Man]

I could see Backlund sign a long term deal around $5M to $5.5M per year. If he wants an 8 year deal, it'd probably be something like $5M x 8 years.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You also don't overpay him for being a nice guy on and off the ice. I wouldn't trade him if the team is in a playoff spot but I would think long and hard about not overpaying him before July 1st.

Sure, but with the cap going up is 6m per season an overpayment? Maybe for 8 years given his age, maybe.
I can't see him getting a lot less.
Also, even though ROR is probably the better player, it's not by much and it's not like he has ever led any team he's been on to any success. I'd rather have Backlund at 6 than ROR at 7.5. At 7.5 per in the Flames salary structure, I'm expecting pretty big things.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You also don't overpay him for being a nice guy on and off the ice. I wouldn't trade him if the team is in a playoff spot but I would think long and hard about not overpaying him before July 1st.

I agree, to a lessor extent they did that with Stajan, now at 33 people want him waived.

Backlund peaked at 27-28 and paying him more than $5 X 4 will be a mistake

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I agree, to a lessor extent they did that with Stajan, now at 33 people want him waived.

Backlund peaked at 27-28 and paying him more than $5 X 4 will be a mistake

Stajan has never been anything more than a complimentary/utility player. He put up decent numbers on some really bad Toronto teams, but there is really no comparison to be had there. Losing a step combined with getting a lot less ice time has really made Stajan fall off a cliff production wise, even if he still puts in a honest shift when called upon.

Players who Backlund is somewhat resembling in tools and style, 2-way players who drive play are usually effective well into their mid 30s (look at Bergeron and Kesler for example), so without hesitation I would bet on Backlund being an effective player for at least the next five or six years. Also, what makes you say he's reached his peak? He's on pace to at least match last years totals. With a good run the rest of the way it's not out of the question that Backlund might reach 60 points this season.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

Stajan has never been anything more than a complimentary/utility player. He put up decent numbers on some really bad Toronto teams, but there is really no comparison to be had there. Losing a step combined with getting a lot less ice time has really made Stajan fall off a cliff production wise, even if he still puts in a honest shift when called upon.

Players who Backlund is somewhat resembling in tools and style, 2-way players who drive play are usually effective well into their mid 30s (look at Bergeron and Kesler for example), so without hesitation I would bet on Backlund being an effective player for at least the next five or six years. Also, what makes you say he's reached his peak? He's on pace to at least match last years totals. With a good run the rest of the way it's not out of the question that Backlund might reach 60 points this season.

You call Stajan a complimentary/utility player but his path was actually better than Backlunds, Stajan put up 55 and 57 pt seasons at age 26-27 and then started to fall off.

Backlund isn't close to a Bergeron or a Kesler in any way.

A Berglund or a Bozak is closer, good players that'll give you 40-50 pts and play good D, I would prefer Bozak over both due to he can actually win faceoffs

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

You call Stajan a complimentary/utility player but his path was actually better than Backlunds, Stajan put up 55 and 57 pt seasons at age 26-27 and then started to fall off.

Backlund isn't close to a Bergeron or a Kesler in any way.

A Berglund or a Bozak is closer, good players that'll give you 40-50 pts and play good D, I would prefer Bozak over both due to he can actually win faceoffs

Backlund was in 4th place in the Selke voting, and for good reason. Closer to Berglund than Kesler? Really? Let's just agree to disagree.

[SeanCharles]

You gotta keep Backlund..Do we have another top 9 center on the team or one that will be ready to be one next season? You hopefully sign the guy for 4-5 years for 5-6 million. He is a good player to have that will allow us to develop Jankowski without putting too much responsibility on him.

Brouwer is the player that needs to go for next season.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

You call Stajan a complimentary/utility player but his path was actually better than Backlunds, Stajan put up 55 and 57 pt seasons at age 26-27 and then started to fall off.

Backlund isn't close to a Bergeron or a Kesler in any way.

A Berglund or a Bozak is closer, good players that'll give you 40-50 pts and play good D, I would prefer Bozak over both due to he can actually win faceoffs

Did you just say you prefer Tyler Bozak over Michael Backlund? Oh boy..

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Did you just say you prefer Tyler Bozak over Michael Backlund? Oh boy..

I sure would like Backlund to win an important draw once in a while , I'm just not as big a fan of his as most here, I don't hate him but I don't think he'll be worth the money I suspect he'll get

[Calgary4LIfe]

Backlund doesn't just produce 40-50pts. He produces 40-50pts while keeping the other teams' best players from producing. That's worth a lot.

If he was just a one dimensional scorer, that's one thing.
If he was just a defensive specialist without any offensive ability, that's another thing.

Backlund does both. He also adds a lot of speed to the organization, adds a lot of character to the locker room, and is a proven center that makes other players he plays with better, and you have yourselves a bargain at anything under 6 million.

How do I build my Stanley Cup winning team? Elite goalie, #1 D that can QB the PP, offensive center... High up on that list for me is a spot for an elite shut-down center with huge bonus points for providing offence at the same time. That's Backlund. I wouldn't trade him for 3 fricken Tyler Bozos.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Backlund doesn't just produce 40-50pts. He produces 40-50pts while keeping the other teams' best players from producing. That's worth a lot.

I don't want to get into a pissing match over this but he has zero answer for McDavid(this bugs me) and other top centers like Scheifele and friken Horvat own him as well.

Maybe I'm blind but to me Backlund is just an average 2nd line center. I'm done talking about him until Treliving signs him to an extension

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I don't want to get into a pissing match over this but he has zero answer for McDavid(this bugs me) and other top centers like Scheifele and friken Horvat own him as well.

Maybe I'm blind but to me Backlund is just an average 2nd line center. I'm done talking about him until Treliving signs him to an extension

I wouldn't call him average, he's a good centre - but the other things you point out are fair.

I am starting to wonder what the Flames are thinking here though. If they wanted to lock him up long-term, surely it would have been done by now or we'd had heard about some level of on-going negotiations. It has me thinking that maybe they are looking to "upgrade" the the position (the Turris rumours speak to this). Could it be Ryan O'Reilly?

We all know Backs is an advance-stats darling, but is there something the Flames have identified in their assessments that have them unwilling to commit to big $ to Backlund until he’s 35/36?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I don't want to get into a pissing match over this but he has zero answer for McDavid(this bugs me) and other top centers like Scheifele and friken Horvat own him as well.

Maybe I'm blind but to me Backlund is just an average 2nd line center. I'm done talking about him until Treliving signs him to an extension

https://flamesnation.ca/2017/12/02/t...avid-antidote/

[Strange Brew]

I like Backlund a lot but you don't sign him to an 8 year deal.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I like Backlund a lot but you don't sign him to an 8 year deal.

Agree. probably my favourite player.

They should be aiming for 4-5 year contract, at around $5.5M per year. That would be fair and reasonable for both parties IMO.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I could see Backlund sign a long term deal around $5M to $5.5M per year. If he wants an 8 year deal, it'd probably be something like $5M x 8 years.

That term terrifies me. It's difficult to ignore Backlund's injury history, even if he's remained healthy the last few years.

I wouldn't go beyond 4yrs with him, even if it means another $1M or so in AAV.

[Poe969]

5x5 is the most I'd give Backs. No more than 5 years and no more than 5 mil per. If he wants to stay and he wants to win he'd sign that.