Mikael Backlund vs. Nazem Kadri

[Wayne Primeau]

Who do you take going forward?

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[Flames Fanatic]

Tough choice. I think Backlund is a better two way player (opinion) but Kadri is pesty as hell. For me it largely depends on what Backlund's contract will be.

 

[LeafsNation149]

Kadri is better and younger, so him pretty easily.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Kadri for me.

 

[Wayne Primeau]

Backlund is the Flames' most valuable forward and a better two-way player than Kadri (finished 4th in Selke voting last year), so I'm going with him.

 

[Advanced stats]

Backlund is the Flames' most valuable forward

Pardon me?

 

[Wayne Primeau]

Pardon me?

You heard me.

Right now, the Flames' most valuable forward is Mikael Backlund. He was consistently phenomenal the whole season, elevating everybody he played with. He was the driver of one of the top-2 lines in hockey, along with Bergeron's in Boston. While both Gaudreau and Monahan were frustratingly inconsistent throughout the season, Backlund was always fantastic and the backbone of the Flames' forward group.

I'm not saying valuable as in "who would return the most in a trade" -- I'm saying, who contributed the most to the Flames' success last year. It was Backlund, rather easily.

 

[NarcoPolo]

Flip a coin. Backlund is one of the most underrated players in the western conference, and I think these two are very comparable players. I'll take Kadri because he's a rat, but it's close regardless.

 

[zeke]

2yrs

Back (28): 163gms, 17:01, 43gls/100pts (22gls/50pts), 53.7cf%/+5.8rel, 42.0ozs%, 47.7fo%
Kadri (27): 158gms, 17:24, 49gls/106pts (25gls/55pts), 52.6cf%/+2.0rel, 44.2ozs%, 48.6fo%


Damn that's tight.

 

[Koolboss]

Kadri is more skilled and can hit pretty hard but both are defensively good

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Kadri is better and younger, so him pretty easily.

He is one year younger and Backlund has consistently done well with super difficult zone starts and competition. I'll give Kadri credit that he was better overall this season but a lot of had to do with power play scoring. Kadri constantly has a negative impact on his team's relative goals allowed and goals for percentage. Backlund on the other hand constantly has a positive effect, and don't get me started on the "Oh but Kadri takes a lot of difficult matchups." Backlund takes even more and more Dzone starts, and yet still performs better. Kadri also plays a style that ages worse, so him pretty easily is just homerist bias.

Backlund has proven more and has proven he can be a defensive relied center, Kadri has only proven that in one season and in this season whenever he was on the ice his team got outscored a lot more and he barely scores more to make up for it, not the case for Backlund ever.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

Aside from perhaps the hitting game, Backlund is one of the most well-rounded forwards in the NHL.

Constantly gets the hardest matchups.

Constantly makes everyone around him better.

Wish he would play on a contending team.

 

[garyturner3]

Close poll. Kadri better offensively, but Backlund better defensively. Wouldn't be wrong with either choice here.

 

[Jyrki Lumme]

Pretty much the same quality player. Both very ideal 2nd line centres.

 

[InfinityIggy]

Kadri is probably the more skilled player, and more physical. Backlund has Selke level defensive play though.

Tough one, edge Kadri due to age.

 

[Apotheosis]

I prefer Kadri here, but it's super close. I just love his compete level and that kind of pest nature is what'll get him killed but also draw so much attention from opposing teams in the playoffs.

 

[Skobel24]

Close poll. Kadri better offensively, but Backlund better defensively. Wouldn't be wrong with either choice here.

My thoughts exactly. Kadri plays with more of an edge, and better offensively. Backlund is a smarter player, better defensively.

Personally, I'd prefer Kadri. The thought of a Tkachuk - Kadri - Frolik/Ferland line does things to me that if I said it, I'd get an infraction.

 

[Morbo]

I like Kadri's edge. They're both good though.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I actually don't get the age argument. Kadri is one year younger than Backlund but plays a style that usually ages worse (And yes I know Kadri isn't a pure crash and bang player, but nevertheless Backlund relies more on finesse and smarts and less on physica play and extreme skill).

For next season only I wouldn't be against choosing Kadri, but in going forward multiple years those who chose Backlund have a lot of valid reasons.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

About even. Backlund defensively, Kadri offensively. I'll vote for the younger Kadri.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Flip a coin.

 

[TT1]

Easily Backlund, elite defensive 2C.

Kadri is the better offensive player but defensively he can't hold Backlund's jockstrap.

 

[shaner8989]

Good poll gimme Kadri

 

[Halla]

Backlund is better away from the puck, but Kadri is significantly ahead offensively.

19g/30pts more in 53 less games for naz

I take the 30g/60pt C here

 

[Halla]

I actually don't get the age argument. Kadri is one year younger than Backlund but plays a style that usually ages worse (And yes I know Kadri isn't a pure crash and bang player, but nevertheless Backlund relies more on finesse and smarts and less on physica play and extreme skill).

For next season only I wouldn't be against choosing Kadri, but in going forward multiple years those who chose Backlund have a lot of valid reasons.

He is closer to 2 years than 1. drafted 2 years apart, so there is that