Who is Backlund?

[slcrocket]

I have seen Backlund's name popping up occasionally in all the trade/FA threads, and the prevailing sentiment (at least in those threads) is that Backlund is really closer to a third line center than a second line center. I was surprised the first time I read it, but the more I think about it I realize I am not sure exactly what I think Backlund is.

It seemed like two years ago several people were talking about him being a sneaky Selke candidate, and indeed he cashed in with a new deal shortly thereafter. But if Frolik is indeed on the way out (and I can't envision a scenario where we keep him with our needs for cap relief/his salary/his role), that #2 line is going to be broken up. I think it's increasingly important that we understand who exactly Backlund is and where he fits here.

The guy was 21G, 26 A and a +34 last year. I get that you'd like to see more offensive numbers from your #2 C, but with his ability to play shutdown defensive minutes and that +/-, I tend to feel like he's closer to a 2C than a 3C. Certainly upgradeable, but not a bad 2C.

The other issue is that he makes 5.3M, and will for a while. That's a lot of cash for a 3C. So who is Mikael Backlund??

[dammage79]

A selke calibre 2b center? The man's earned his contract. I could trade him at the same time too.

[Zoller]

2nd line center on our team

3rd line center on a stanley cup winning team

[mrdonkey]

A really good (if overpaid) 3rd line center on a contending team.

[Erick Estrada]

He's a 2nd line center. Ideally on a deep, cup contending team he's a 3rd line center but the Flames do not have that center depth so he is what he is. Good overall player that has a low offensive ceiling that he's at least reaching on a regular basis.

[neo45]

A decent second line center. Monahan is a decent first line center. Ryan is a good third line center and Jankowski is a very good fourth line center

Total cap hit of 16.5. For all the talk about center ice being a weakness I really don’t see it. For 16.5 million I think that’s about as good as you get in the NHL

[Wolfman]

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by neo45

Total cap hit of 16.5. For all the talk about center ice being a weakness I really don’t see it. For 16.5 million I think that’s about as good as you get in the NHL

Unfortunately they don’t award the Stanley Cup for being “as good as you get for 16.5 mil.”

The Flames are weak at center for a team that is looking to win. For a bubble team just looking to make the playoffs they’re pretty good, I suppose.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Unfortunately they don’t award the Stanley Cup for being “as good as you get for 16.5 mil.”

The Flames are weak at center for a team that is looking to win. For a bubble team just looking to make the playoffs they’re pretty good, I suppose.

No, but they just awarded the actually Stanley Cup to a team built similarly down the middle.

O’Rielly - Sundqvist - Bozak - Barbashev isn’t glaringly better than what we have. You don’t need Crosby and Malkin to get the job done

[TheScorpion]

I think he's Swedish or something.

Also calling the Flames a bubble team is willfully ignorant. They just had 50 wins! 107 points!

[Looch City]

He's a damn beautiful specimen that will be a Flame forever.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Unfortunately they don’t award the Stanley Cup for being “as good as you get for 16.5 mil.”

The Flames are weak at center for a team that is looking to win. For a bubble team just looking to make the playoffs they’re pretty good, I suppose.

2nd overall

[GranteedEV]

He's a 2C.

Problem is

1) The Flames still lack a true 1C. Monahan isn't that so Backlund can't compensate. We saw first hand what a true 1C can do when MacKinnon outclassed our entire roster singlehandedly.
2) The Flames are still shallow on RW. If our second line were Tkachuk-Backlund-Lindholm for instance, it'd be the best 2nd line in the league.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

[Locke]

Yes, yes, but Why is Backlund? That...is the question!

[dissentowner]

He is a third line C but a high end one at that. Nothing I have seen offensively says otherwise to me.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

He's a 2C.

Problem is

1) The Flames still lack a true 1C. Monahan isn't that so Backlund can't compensate. We saw first hand what a true 1C can do when MacKinnon outclassed our entire roster singlehandedly.
2) The Flames are still shallow on RW. If our second line were Tkachuk-Backlund-Lindholm for instance, it'd be the best 2nd line in the league.

There is so much wrong about this post I don't know where to start.

[Wolfman]

I'd compare Backlund to Jordan Staal, maybe better defensively

[Vinny01]

It would be nice to improve our center ice position which would have occurred with the Kadri trade. I am interested in Turris if Nashville has interest in Neal but not otherwise. Lindholm can slide to the second line but it hurts our RW spot (which is weaker than our center ice position).

I think Backlund is a good second line C that would be great on a third line with strict orders to shut the other team down. He has quite a bit of offensive responsibility today which is fine but I think this team would be very elite with another center that can play in the 2 spot

[loob job]

His move was the cross face chicken wing i believe.