Guess it will depend on if he wants to stay in Calgary or not
- Redmile247

And if Calgary wants to spend their cap on really good centre. IMO, the Flames should lock him up long term at $5million +- if that's what it takes. He makes other players better which is what a really good centre does. Stajan will be off the cap by that time so it'll work out just fine.

We're not trading Backlund anymore than we're trading Hamilton. In fact, I've been debating since the summer that Backlund is a better and more complete player than RNH. Man did I ever get grief for that, to the point people thought I knew nothing about hockey. Brought up the subject again on the Oiler blog yesterday, and wouldn't you know, everybody's singing a different tune now...
- Flamin_Irishmin

But even when you look at the Oilers it looks like they have a decision to make as well. Most likely they are going to look at trading RNH (their version of Backlund) because they'll have big money invested in McDavid and Draisaitl.

I love Backlund, but if he ends up having a career year this year I think there's a good chance we look at trading him.

Hopefully Kulak shows he can step up as our #4 (we might have to throw something to Vegas to keep him from being selected) and guys like Kylington and Fat Rass are pounding on the door by the end of the season. I am perfectly fine going with a young, young bottom 3 next year.

I love pointing that out to some of my pond scum sucking Oiler buddies that RNH is the 6.0 million version of Backlund in training.

Problem is, unfortunately we ate up one of Bennett's ELC years on that playoff run. If he does well this year, we will need to pay him Monahan type of money. If we bridge him on a 2 year deal, that can really backfire & then his next one after that will be a monster contract if he projects to being that #1 centre we are hoping for. Maybe Tre can do some magic & get Bennett on a 7 year $35 mill deal & that will soften the cushion of a 5 year $25 mill deal for Backs. One can hope anyway.


- Kevin R

Bennett hasn't earned that kinda deal

But even when you look at the Oilers it looks like they have a decision to make as well. Most likely they are going to look at trading RNH (their version of Backlund) because they'll have big money invested in McDavid and Draisaitl.

I love Backlund, but if he ends up having a career year this year I think there's a good chance we look at trading him.

Hopefully Kulak shows he can step up as our #4 (we might have to throw something to Vegas to keep him from being selected) and guys like Kylington and Fat Rass are pounding on the door by the end of the season. I am perfectly fine going with a young, young bottom 3 next year.
- Saskabush

Oilers have a bigger problem with their centers as nuge makes more than backs will and drai will make more than bennett

Bennett hasn't earned that kinda deal
- Redmile247

In what way? He's 20 years old. Your best deals are when they aren't hitting their ceiling & you get a discount on peak years by overpaying what they are currently doing. I see Bennett & I see a #1 Centre & a good one at that. He's chippy, he's cocky & once he gets that swagger, other teams fans are going to hate him but not as much as they are going to hate Chucky

In what way? He's 20 years old. Your best deals are when they aren't hitting their ceiling & you get a discount on peak years by overpaying what they are currently doing. I see Bennett & I see a #1 Centre & a good one at that. He's chippy, he's cocky & once he gets that swagger, other teams fans are going to hate him but not as much as they are going to hate Chucky
- Kevin R

I could see Bennett signing for Brodie money. 6x 4.75 or something like that wouldn't be too bad IMO. I could also see Bennett push for a bridge contract, which could easily (frank) us in the long run

Oilers have a bigger problem with their centers as nuge makes more than backs will and drai will make more than bennett
- Redmile247

Still the same problem though. You don't really want to have ~15 mill locked up on 3 centres. Especially when it looks like we have a good 3C on an ELC coming up. That extra ~4 million could be put to better use elsewhere IMO.

I could see Bennett signing for Brodie money. 6x 4.75 or something like that wouldn't be too bad IMO. I could also see Bennett push for a bridge contract, which could easily (frank) us in the long run
- Saskabush

That seems reasonable to me

I don't see Bennett being a guy who will hit a honerun off a bridge deal anyways

I could see Bennett signing for Brodie money. 6x 4.75 or something like that wouldn't be too bad IMO. I could also see Bennett push for a bridge contract, which could easily (frank) us in the long run
- Saskabush

I'd go show me with Bennett on 2\3 years at $2.5-$3. He's young and has good upside but he's only shown a few flashes. Whether he ends up a centre is still in question...he needs more time to show what he's going to be.

Still the same problem though. You don't really want to have ~15 mill locked up on 3 centres. Especially when it looks like we have a good 3C on an ELC coming up. That extra ~4 million could be put to better use elsewhere IMO.
- Saskabush

Oilers will have 15 mill in 2 let alone 3

We have seen 1 game of janko ...I'm not ready to pass on backs from that sample size

I'd go show me with Bennett on 2\3 years at $2.5-$3. He's young and has good upside but he's only shown a few flashes. Whether he ends up a centre is still in question...he needs more time to show what he's going to be.
- tincup

Well said

Would love to see stats on high danger scoring chances against on dougie as it relates to the rest of his advanced stats. I know this won't be popular, but my sense is that when he gets it wrong he gets it really wrong. I feel he's high reward-high risk, and in that light he looks the weaker player than Giordano or Brodie.

I think Backs would be sorely missed if he was ever traded.
- Clyde334

Well there is only one way to know for certain.

Well there is only one way to know for certain.
- Wildschwein

Oilers will have 15 mill in 2 let alone 3

We have seen 1 game of janko ...I'm not ready to pass on backs from that sample size
- Redmile247

Pittsburgh has 18 million tied up in 2 centres, very elite centres, but they made it work enough to win a Stanley Cup. I'd like to see Monny, Backs, Benny and Janko down the middle for the foreseeable future. We should have Boomer, Engelland, Stage, Wideman and Versteeg + a goalie coming of the books this year, I think GM BT will be firm but fair with the upcoming contracts so I'm not worried yet.

Well there is only one way to know for certain.
- Wildschwein

But even when you look at the Oilers it looks like they have a decision to make as well. Most likely they are going to look at trading RNH (their version of Backlund) because they'll have big money invested in McDavid and Draisaitl.

I love Backlund, but if he ends up having a career year this year I think there's a good chance we look at trading him.

Hopefully Kulak shows he can step up as our #4 (we might have to throw something to Vegas to keep him from being selected) and guys like Kylington and Fat Rass are pounding on the door by the end of the season. I am perfectly fine going with a young, young bottom 3 next year.
- Saskabush

Fat Rass...

Would be great to see a Tkachuk - Money - Versteeg line.

Still having nightmares of the Rangers game where Ferland played on the Backs/Frolik line.. Not sure I can agree with that one.. Not sure Ferland has been off the 4th line since that stretch.. Might be wrong, miss the odd game here and there.
- fry

Been saying this for over a week! Time to move some players around , ignite a spark!
Going to try and not bash the coach as much!

I love pointing that out to some of my pond scum sucking Oiler buddies that RNH is the 6.0 million version of Backlund in training.

Problem is, unfortunately we ate up one of Bennett's ELC years on that playoff run. If he does well this year, we will need to pay him Monahan type of money. If we bridge him on a 2 year deal, that can really backfire & then his next one after that will be a monster contract if he projects to being that #1 centre we are hoping for. Maybe Tre can do some magic & get Bennett on a 7 year $35 mill deal & that will soften the cushion of a 5 year $25 mill deal for Backs. One can hope anyway.


- Kevin R

Bennett would have to tear up the league the rest of the year to earn that kind of dough! Not going to happen!
Sure they'll push for a bridge, but don't think BT will grant that.

Key line is this blog:

"Playing primarily with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik helps his cause, obviously."

Tkachuk is a fantastic young player but Joe Colborne and Lance Bouma looked like world beaters playing with Backlund. Is Backlund the most underrated centre in the NHL ?

Agree on Dougie...let him play for the love of Pete.
- tincup

Don't kid yourself! Tkachuk drives that line as much as the others, Backlund looking so confident right now, playing tougher, is a direct result of MT playing on his line.
This is why they should saddle him with Monahan, we can only hope he'd play with more of an edge!

Don't kid yourself! Tkachuk drives that line as much as the others, Backlund looking so confident right now, playing tougher, is a direct result of MT playing on his line.
This is why they should saddle him with Monahan, we can only hope he'd play with more of an edge!
- K-man25

(frank) I that Duran Duran jack ass thought Tkachuk should be sent down at the start of the year.

(frank) I that Duran Duran jack ass thought Tkachuk should be sent down at the start of the year.
- DuranDuran

Yeah well he's a noob and a b!tch

Yeah well he's a noob and a b!tch
- Squilliam-

But he gets all the ladies!

But he gets all the ladyboys!

- DuranDuran

Jero?

Jero?
- Redmile247