Backlund - FO%

[Dienasty]

60% on the face-offs last night and you put Stajan on the ice? Come on Hartley. Stajan, lost the face off at center ice, had a chance to clear the puck that hossa kept in the blue line, then to add insult to injury, he wasn't anywhere near the TWO hawks standing wide open in the slot. Please play backlund the guy was a beast again yesterday. Once again him and hudler were the two best forwards on the ice.

[Coach]

Backlunds been great. I'd like to see Sven slot in with him once he's back and see how they do.

[Jbo]

Probably could have gone in the PGT

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Oh jeeze. Wasn't the face off at centre ice? Stajan was over 50% last night anyway and he's been good on the defensive side of the puck, more so than Baclund IMO. Good choice by the coach.

[Knut]

Stajan @ 54% on the season. Backlund @ 46%

[Vulcan]

More news, the Flames are slightly over 50% in faceoffs. This team is improving.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

More news, the Flames are slightly over 50% in faceoffs. This team is improving.

14th overall right now.

But that's just because the opposition has been tired

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Backlund's short time in Sweden has given him new life. He looks great right now. He's been one of the best forwards since Game 1.

So happy Feaster didn't give up on him after last year's injury plagued season. I think he can be a solid young forward for the Flames in the future.

[Captain_Obvious]

He looks a lot more mature out there. In the past he's looked like a boy and this year he's looking like a man.

That said, he and Glencross need to spend 2 hours a day - every day this week- shooting pucks at at empty net over and over and over.

It's killing me seeing these two guys miss the net so much.

[IgiTang]

Yep, Backlund needs to be given more responsibility to help grow his self-confidence. Just like he said he "needs to be more cocky". If the coach puts you in important situations, that says he knows he can depend on you.

Yesterday, 30 seconds left the puck is going to the corner and I see Hudler chasing it down. I know the guy has been incredible but honestly, hes not the best defensive choice for that situation. Hartley is making some strange decisions. I love the system, i love the effort, now lets start seeing smart coaching. You go with Glencross, Stempniak and Backlund in that situation. If need be, call a timeout to rest those 3.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Yep, Backlund needs to be given more responsibility to help grow his self-confidence. Just like he said he "needs to be more cocky". If the coach puts you in important situations, that says he knows he can depend on you.

Yesterday, 30 seconds left the puck is going to the corner and I see Hudler chasing it down. I know the guy has been incredible but honestly, hes not the best defensive choice for that situation. Hartley is making some strange decisions. I love the system, i love the effort, now lets start seeing smart coaching. You go with Glencross, Stempniak and Backlund in that situation. If need be, call a timeout to rest those 3.

I can understand wanting Hudler out there in that situation: maybe the best puck handler we have. Not sure that the others would have ended up in any different position though, sigh.

[Enoch Root]

I agree with IgiTang.

Hard to figure why Hudler was out in the last 30 seconds.

Also, how is a guy alone in the slot with 2 seconds left? THere should have been 5 Flames collapsed in front of the net making it difficult to get a shot off.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Yep, Backlund needs to be given more responsibility to help grow his self-confidence. Just like he said he "needs to be more cocky". If the coach puts you in important situations, that says he knows he can depend on you.

Yesterday, 30 seconds left the puck is going to the corner and I see Hudler chasing it down. I know the guy has been incredible but honestly, hes not the best defensive choice for that situation. Hartley is making some strange decisions. I love the system, i love the effort, now lets start seeing smart coaching. You go with Glencross, Stempniak and Backlund in that situation. If need be, call a timeout to rest those 3.

The last minute goals are not scored on line rushes or fancy passes. They are all about fighting for position and knocking the other guy over.

You can kind of figure out who Chicago's 6 men will be on the ice:

Toews 6' 2" 208
Hossa 6' 1" 210
Sharp 6' 1" 199
Kane 5' 11 185
Keith 6' 200
Seabrook 6'3" 221

The Flames ONLY line up that could possible match up Physically

Glencross 6' 1 197
Iginla 6' 1 210
and the centre unless it is for a defensive zone faceoff has to be Jones at 6' 2 216 anybody else is going to get run over by Hossa and Toews.

Backlund seems to be way stronger and bigger this year but right now it is a toss up between him and Stajan and both are physically over matched by most teams big Centres. (toews, Kopitar, Thorton, Kesler, Koivu,

The defence is a huge problem in that Bouwmeester at 6' 3" 212 and Gio / Wideman at 6' 200 are our biggest d-men (Sarich nominally bigger).

Bouwmeester just plays so much smaller. I think the Flames should go with Wideman and Gio in their goal-line defense.

[Itse]

No way Hartley should have put Glencross in for the last seconds, the guy had been terrible all night.

You could critique that Hartley didn't go with some fresher legs there though. (Hudler had just been on the ice for the last goal for example.) However, coaching is always easier after the fact.

[you got PHANUEFED]

Backlund has been a real suprise so far looks like he has finally taken that step forward he's shooting alot more and his compete level has been raised to a hole new level.

[Roof-Daddy]

Backlund will be in either the AHL or KHL by the start of 2014.......book it.


Not my prediction BTW

[cznTiburon]

Originally Posted by Dienasty

60% on the face-offs last night and you put Stajan on the ice? Come on Hartley. Stajan, lost the face off at center ice, had a chance to clear the puck that hossa kept in the blue line, then to add insult to injury, he wasn't anywhere near the TWO hawks standing wide open in the slot. Please play backlund the guy was a beast again yesterday. Once again him and hudler were the two best forwards on the ice.

you realize that the puck actually deflected off his stick and went onto hossa's.. he was in the right position he just had bad luck, like the entire team..

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The defence is a huge problem in that Bouwmeester at 6' 3" 212 and Gio / Wideman at 6' 200 are our biggest d-men (Sarich nominally bigger).

Bouwmeester just plays so much smaller. I think the Flames should go with Wideman and Gio in their goal-line defense.

Quite Valid points on size being an issue, but this comment rings so true and it makes me shake my head or "bottle my mind" like some of you guys say, I still dont get that BTW. LOL

But as im saying in the other thread about about death for seth or some crap like that... Im saying Bouwmeester at $6.68Mm and playing so small is a waste of money. You need to have someone who can control the front, make people pay and think twice about going after loose pucks there.

[Vinny01]

Glencross-Backlund-Stempniak is a fast line with scoring potential. Ideally Sven can play with the Czechs when he comes back even though I have liked Stajan in that roll. Play Stajan with Jones and cycle Comeau, Jackman, Begin on the left side

[OzSome]

That's how confidence will do to the player. The last few season his confidence was so low that he was afraid to make mistake and get the Wrath of Sutter once he gets to the bench. This season Hartley is encouraging him to go to the net and even be creative.