Backlund can play wing, I'm not sure how an upgrade at center isn't needed, it just isn't as pressing as other positions.
Just to be clear, I didn't say that an upgrade at centre wasn't necessary, just that Stastny was. And simply because it'll complicate things too much. In an ideal world the Flames could sign him for 1-3 years at whatever cap hit so he could act as a stopgap until the prospects are ready.
In reality, Stastny's unlikely to sign for anything less than 6 or 7 years with a cap hit north of 7M. And while the cap doesn't matter now, it will by the 3rd or 4th year of that contract, at least if the rebuild is where it should be.
Moreover, as Anglesmith elucidated, Stastny isn't really an ideal top line centre. Even ignoring Backlund and Stajan for a moment, within a few years, again assuming the prospects pan out and the Flames draft a centre this year, Stastny will once again find himself as a third line centre overpaid for his role.
Bringing back Backlund and Stajan into the equation, and assuming the Flames draft a centre who's good enough to make the league as soon as next season, it'll leave the organization with 5 (6 if you Byron) NHL centres. Move one or two of them to the wing? Okay, but then where do Baertschi, Gaudreau, Granlund or Reinhart fit in? Suddenly there's no room (factoring in unsigned RFA's in Bouma and Colborne coming back and Wolf being on the roster) for any upcoming prospect that wasn't a lottery pick.
And I do think as well that there's a very good chance both Monahan and the centre they pick this year (assuming they do) will end up being better than Stastny. I believe Backlund could at the very least end up being as good as him one day too.
He is needed. He makes our team better now, and in the future.
Why does no one want the Flames to get better?
The goal of a rebuild isn't build a playoff contending team; it's too build a cup contending team.
Stastny's the type of player a team acquiries when they already have a core in place and only need one or two final pieces to put them over the top. In the same vein as a Hossa or Carter.
If Cammy doesn't re-sign, how do we reach the floor, and what forward is currently better than Stats?
Literally five seconds on capgeek would tell you reaching the floor isn't a problem whatsoever. The Flames need to spend 12-14M on 8 players (for a 22 man roster); easily doable, especially when you consider they'll be spending a bit on a #4 or #5. defensemen and a backup/1A starter.