Sabres/Islanders Interested in Flames Backlund.. Backlund has followed Tkachuk’s lead and is telling the Flames he will be leaving after this season.

Backs is a really good player and person but I dont see a fit on the Island or Buffalo today unless the Sabres are moving Tage to the wing. IMO this will most likely be a trade deadline deal when the market is bigger.

Backs is a really good player and person but I dont see a fit on the Island or Buffalo today unless the Sabres are moving Tage to the wing. This will most likely be a trade deadline deal when the market is bigger.
- DEDDIE

The last thing the Islander need is another center and one that is 34. It's not that hard to figure out they need a scoring wing.

Backs is a really good player and person but I dont see a fit on the Island or Buffalo today unless the Sabres are moving Tage to the wing. IMO this will most likely be a trade deadline deal when the market is bigger.
- DEDDIE

Back is really good, but not nearly enough so to supplant Tage. We'd be bringing him in to be 3C most likely. A big step back in minutes, but he'd stay on PK1 and get tons of d-zone draws.

What do you think the Flames are looking for in return for him as a rental?

The last thing the Islander need is another center and one that is 34. It's not that hard to figure out they need a scoring wing.
- ses111

I may be wrong, but thought Back played some RW at one point.

30 something Center.

Ek will throw ANYTHING against the wall and hope it sticks.

Backs is a really good player and person but I dont see a fit on the Island or Buffalo today unless the Sabres are moving Tage to the wing. IMO this will most likely be a trade deadline deal when the market is bigger.
- DEDDIE

I would have thought the Bruins were the better fit for a team wanting Backlund depending what Kriech & Berger do.

I would say an extended Hanafin & Backlund for Frederic, Carlo & 2024 1st. would be an interesting basis for a deal. Carlo playing with Zadorov gives us good depth on the 6 D as we wait to see what Kyllington is.

30 something Center.

Ek will throw ANYTHING against the wall and hope it sticks.
- Pairo11

He would submit a 10 team list of teams he accept a trade to. Do we really think Buffalo would be on that list? Next Ek........

Seems way more likely that the Flames start the year with Backlund and then as the trade deadline nears they get his list of 10 teams and deal him then. Backlund wants to win, so waiting allows him to select 10 contenders. Also gives those 10 teams more cap flexibility to fit him at the deadline. Most contenders aren't sitting around with $5M of cap space for a 3C, which is where he slots on any legit contender.

Also weird that NYI seems to be in almost every rumour...Backlund, Nylander, Kane, Tarasenko, Duchene. They were in on DeBrincat. Lou never leaks anything, ever. Look at free agency. No rumours. Then boom...Sorokin, Mayfield, Engvall all locked up. So if Lou never leaks, who is the source on all these NYI rumours? Maybe they have a mole on the inside?

I may be wrong, but thought Back played some RW at one point.
- QuinnFan

Back may have played some RW at one point, but the Islanders need a younger goal scoring wing that can be match with Barzal.

Backlund would be a perfect pick up for the Avalanche. He’s a defensive center that kills penalties and still picks up 45-50 points. Probably at the deadline would be the best but if he still wanting out it might be best to trade him early.

Backlund would be a perfect pick up for the Avalanche. He’s a defensive center that kills penalties and still picks up 45-50 points. Probably at the deadline would be the best but if he still wanting out it might be best to trade him early.
- K-man25

Agreed a contender looking for C depth at the deadline makes the most sense. I can see the Flames retaining money at the deadline on their pending UFA's to maximize the return.

Back is really good, but not nearly enough so to supplant Tage. We'd be bringing him in to be 3C most likely. A big step back in minutes, but he'd stay on PK1 and get tons of d-zone draws.

What do you think the Flames are looking for in return for him as a rental?
- QuinnFan

There's pretty much no chance of this happening. Ownership wants the team to be competitive so they won't be trading players before the season. Also, everything is trending towards them actually being competitive so the Flames will likely be buying and not selling at the deadline.

There's pretty much no chance of this happening. Ownership wants the team to be competitive so they won't be trading players before the season. Also, everything is trending towards them actually being competitive so the Flames will likely be buying and not selling at the deadline.
- Squeaky

I hope you’re wrong, we can’t keep chasing our tail like a mad dog. We lost our superstars, and the easiest way to replace them is top 10 draft picks. I hope they trade Lindholm first, if he can’t make up his mind on the offer that’s been there for over a month, it pretty much shows he’s not interested in staying.

Blow it up!

Andersson for captain!

I hope you’re wrong, we can’t keep chasing our tail like a mad dog. We lost our superstars, and the easiest way to replace them is top 10 draft picks. I hope they trade Lindholm first, if he can’t make up his mind on the offer that’s been there for over a month, it pretty much shows he’s not interested in staying.

Blow it up!

Andersson for captain!
- K-man25

Exactly! And you don’t want to run the risk of any of the ufa getting injured either. get rid of the guys that don’t want to be here!

Exactly! And you don’t want to run the risk of any of the ufa getting injured either. get rid of the guys that don’t want to be here!
- pzoxic

Toffoli's the only one who asked for a trade, and he's gone. No one else necessarily doesn't want to be here. Last year was awful. I doubt anyone was having fun coming to the rink and they weren't winning. There's no reason to commit to another 8 years now before you know if the team's going to be competitive or how the culture's going to change. Plus, the cap is going up about a billion dollars next summer. Most of the UFAs on all teams aren't extending this summer.

Toffoli's the only one who asked for a trade, and he's gone. No one else necessarily doesn't want to be here. Last year was awful. I doubt anyone was having fun coming to the rink and they weren't winning. There's no reason to commit to another 8 years now before you know if the team's going to be competitive or how the culture's going to change. Plus, the cap is going up about a billion dollars next summer. Most of the UFAs on all teams aren't extending this summer.
- Squeaky

Actually Hanifin has said he won’t extend here, Backlund asked to be traded last year, Lindholm has an very good offer on the table for over a month now and still hasn’t committed to the Flames. Don’t let facts get in the way with your comments here.
Flames have the perfect opportunity to build a really good team for their new arena, the draft is where you start this. We’ve got lots of nice players that other teams should want. Treliving really pooched the salary structure by extending Huberdeau before he even played a game for them.

Actually Hanifin has said he won’t extend here, Backlund asked to be traded last year, Lindholm has an very good offer on the table for over a month now and still hasn’t committed to the Flames. Don’t let facts get in the way with your comments here.
Flames have the perfect opportunity to build a really good team for their new arena, the draft is where you start this. We’ve got lots of nice players that other teams should want. Treliving really pooched the salary structure by extending Huberdeau before he even played a game for them.
- K-man25

What facts? Maybe read what I wrote before responding. Backlund requested a trade because the coach was an a-hole, but he also rescinded it. Here's a fact, Backlund publically said a few days ago that he was open to staying in Calgary but wants to wait and see how the season goes. I already covered Lindholm. Wanting to see if last year aberration doesn't mean he wants out of Calgary. It's good for both sides that he isn't signing now. How awful would it be if he signed for 9 million and the team was worse than last year? If Hanifin had asked for a trade, he'd be gone by now.

What facts? Maybe read what I wrote before responding. Backlund requested a trade because the coach was an a-hole, but he also rescinded it. Here's a fact, Backlund publically said a few days ago that he was open to staying in Calgary but wants to wait and see how the season goes. I already covered Lindholm. Wanting to see if last year aberration doesn't mean he wants out of Calgary. It's good for both sides that he isn't signing now. How awful would it be if he signed for 9 million and the team was worse than last year? If Hanifin had asked for a trade, he'd be gone by now.
- Squeaky

Hanafin didnt ask for a trade, he did what Tkachuk did & advised that he wont sign an extension in Calgary. Thats well reported & that pretty well is the next step to trade me. Backlund & Lindholm are in that same boat. Flames simply cant let all these pending UFA's do a Gaudreau. Dont see how Lindholm not signing a huge extension being offered by Conroy seen as a good thing for the Flames?

Hanafin didnt ask for a trade, he did what Tkachuk did & advised that he wont sign an extension in Calgary. Thats well reported & that pretty well is the next step to trade me. Backlund & Lindholm are in that same boat. Flames simply cant let all these pending UFA's do a Gaudreau. Dont see how Lindholm not signing a huge extension being offered by Conroy seen as a good thing for the Flames?
- Kevin R

Lindholms offer has been on the table for a while, he’s not getting guaranteed more than what was presented to him. What’s he waiting for? Trade his as$. I missed the Backlund saying he wants to stay in Calgary, did you hear this?
Hanifin is just another American that wants to play stateside, I think lots of Canadian teams will find it hard to keep their superstars.