No, just no

Ottawa isn't touching that. Backlund is expensive for what he brings, but more importantly he's 31, and the Sens are a rebuilding team. He doesn't fit in Ottawa's competitive window at all.

Exactly!!! Why the hell would you want to surround your young talent with a team leader who is a premier shutdown 2 way center Who averages 20 goals and 50pts per year and has a history of mentoring young guys. That would just be silly.

In honestly I think:

the NJ trade is a trade too rich for NJ
The CBJ trade we would add not them

I can't even put into words how garbage that Gaudreau trade is for the Devils

Sabres decline would cost Hanafin, Bennett + a third or b prospect for Jokiharju alone.

Did I say he's bad?


Sens have a bunch of young centres who need NHL jobs, and they're almost guaranteed to be getting a future 1C in the upcoming draft. There just isn't room for him without moving at least two of Brown, White or Norris, which makes no sense for where the Sens are in their rebuild. Even if they were to add Backlund, the Sens will be bad for at least another year or two, and by then you're expecting your young Cs to be ready to fully take over anyway.

Putting young players in opportunities to get caved in by opponents for the sake of playing them is poor asset management. If you want your young guys to get better you need to give them mentors and line-mates that can carry them from time to time. Guys that can sit on the bench and point out examples from their last shift etc...

I don't think they will get caved. White's already a few seasons into his NHL career, and Norris and Brown are both NHL ready as is. They have vet Cs to surround them already with Anisimov and Tierney. They also have guys like Bobby Ryan and Connor Brown who are great veterans to have around those guys.

Veteran does not equal mentor / leader / good guy for your players to be around .

Bobby Ryan is on the back 9 of dealing with his personal demons. Good for him I’m glad but he’s not really in any shape to mentor young players

Tierney is invisible on the ice and off.

It’s been documented the DJ smith doesn’t trust anisimov That much. He’s a decent player but not a leader

White has potential but with the departures of Duchene and pageau he took a step back (hence needing some real veteran support)

Backlund has been an assistant captain, a very vocal player a leader for the team on the ice and off (super involved in charitable work) THIS is the type of leader you would need

Young players like Josh Norris and Brady Tkachuk seem to value Ryan as a mentor, but I'm sure you know better than them.

Yup sure do! 👍🏻 Glad you finally acknowledge it

Don't worry, every Gaudreau trade is a garbage trade.
You'd think the guy was Gretzky or McDavid or something.

The rhyme of the day is...Let's overpay for Dube

That’s a no from Columbus... we aren’t adding to an Anderson to get Dube... Dube is a 2nd line center prospect, Texier is the same thing as is Foudy.

Devils trade is horrible

Dude please!