Flames really need one of the young prospects not named Tkachuck to step up and fill a top 6 roll or BT needs to find a way to snag a bonified top 6 RW.

I have hope for Mangiapane.
- DuranDuran

I am really curious to see what shink, poirier, etc can all bring in a full year with the big club

Mangiapane looks good but do we want another small player in our top 6 ?

I can and I will.

Little bastards need to sign team friendly deals!
- DuranDuran

I would love Simmonds...but his cap hit and ability make him very hard for Philly to trade
I just see it as very rare a team will trade out a center and then give us a good return for a center ...I get that backs is good but still look at it from the other teams view

is Dallas going to trade spezza and nuch if they are in win now mode ?
- Redmile247

They'd keep Spezza, Nuch doesn't seem to be fitting in with Dallas. The thing with Spezza is that he is already 33, the final year of his contract could be something that Dallas might look to dump somewhere if he regresses (or even if they keep him, he could be a 3rd liner by then which allows Backlund to jump up to 2c if he resigns with them).

Hockeybuzz also has Backlund listed as an RFA after his contract is up (which I find hard to believe) but i that's the case Backlund has even more value because it's not like he can just walk at the end of his contract.

We might have to add to get Nuch, maybe give them some defensive depth? I just think it could be a possibility from Dallas' POV.

I am really curious to see what shink, poirier, etc can all bring in a full year with the big club

Mangiapane looks good but do we want another small player in our top 6 ?
- Redmile247

If he can score at the NHL level I don't care how small he is. I'd take 6 Johnny gaudreau's over 6 Milan Lucic's any day of the week.

They'd keep Spezza, Nuch doesn't seem to be fitting in with Dallas. The thing with Spezza is that he is already 33, the final year of his contract could be something that Dallas might look to dump somewhere if he regresses (or even if they keep him, he could be a 3rd liner by then which allows Backlund to jump up to 2c if he resigns with them).

Hockeybuzz also has Backlund listed as an RFA after his contract is up (which I find hard to believe) but i that's the case Backlund has even more value because it's not like he can just walk at the end of his contract.

We might have to add to get Nuch, maybe give them some defensive depth? I just think it could be a possibility from Dallas' POV.
- Saskabush

Spezza has 3 years remaining ...he scored 33 last year ...why is backlund all of the sudden a better option or fit in with their high priced centers ?

If he can score at the NHL level I don't care how small he is. I'd take 6 Johnny gaudreau's over 6 Milan Lucic's any day of the week.
- Saskabush

What if he is just a Nathan gerbe ?
You have to have a good mix ...especially in the west

Spezza has 3 years remaining ...he scored 33 last year ...why is backlund all of the sudden a better option or fit in with their high priced centers ?
- Redmile247

He would be their 3C that could either give them added depth (plus defensive responsibility) to win now. I don't think Spezza is going to be worth 7.5 mill at 35-36 (when it'll be time to resign Backlund).

If our #2 centre was 33 years old there's now way I'd be looking at dealing Backlund, but we have Bennett (and in this scenario Jankowski) which is the only reason he is expendable.

There are rumours that Nich isn't happy in Dallas, this could be a way for Dallas to add depth needed for a playoff run by trading a player who may threaten leaving for the KHL for nothing.

He would be their 3C that could either give them added depth (plus defensive responsibility) to win now. I don't think Spezza is going to be worth 7.5 mill at 35-36 (when it'll be time to resign Backlund).

If our #2 centre was 33 years old there's now way I'd be looking at dealing Backlund, but we have Bennett (and in this scenario Jankowski) which is the only reason he is expendable.

There are rumours that Nich isn't happy in Dallas, this could be a way for Dallas to add depth needed for a playoff run by trading a player who may threaten leaving for the KHL for nothing.
- Saskabush

Well I hope your right but I have my doubts ...spezza has the skill and has never been a good skater so I find it hard to believe his offence disappears

I am really curious to see what shink, poirier, etc can all bring in a full year with the big club

Mangiapane looks good but do we want another small player in our top 6 ?
- Redmile247

I remember reading Mangiapane has some bite to his game, kinda like Marchand. But i have not seen the guy play so i cannot confirm that.

But do we really want to have ~17-18 mill tied up in 3 centres? I think if Janko proves to be even half as good as Feaster predicted we have to trade Backlund. It sucks because he was one of the few bright spots for draft picks during the Sutter era but wasting that much cap on our 3rd line centre isn't wise, no matter how good his possession numbers are.
- Saskabush

I believe centres are where you do want to spend the money so 18million on centres is fine with me. If Jankowski emerges this year, then yes, that may make Backlund expendable. I guess we'll see.

I believe centres are where you do want to spend the money so 18million on centres is fine with me. If Jankowski emerges this year, then yes, that may make Backlund expendable. I guess we'll see.
- tincup

Just to be clear, that was what happened in my hypothetical scenario. I'm not advocating trading Backlund now, but if Janko emerges then I think TDL could be interesting.

It's July, what else is there to do besides dream up hypothetical scenarios that probably won't happen

Well I hope your right but I have my doubts ...spezza has the skill and has never been a good skater so I find it hard to believe his offence disappears
- Redmile247

Yeah, kind of a long shot. Just looking at possible scenarios and thought Dallas might be a fit (maybe they'll double down on our d and take Wideman this year ). All of this was dependent upon Janko emerging as a good defensive centre whom we could use as an immediate replacement for Backlund.

Yeah, kind of a long shot. Just looking at possible scenarios and thought Dallas might be a fit (maybe they'll double down on our d and take Wideman this year ). All of this was dependent upon Janko emerging as a good defensive centre whom we could use as an immediately replacement for Backlund.
- Saskabush[/quote
Backlunds situation will depend on Bennetts development as an nhl centre. As of right now Bennett isn't the #2 centre we all hope he'll be. No rush here!