I don't want to come across as someone who really wants Backes traded. He's an important player, but I honestly just feel like moving him in the offseason would be of this organization's best interest, UNLESS we win the cup. If we win the cup, or even make it to the cup, then I'm all for keeping this team together since that would show me that they are close.
But if we lose in the 1st or 2nd round again then we gotta make some changes, IMO. And moving on from Backes would be the #1 thing that I would do. He'll be 31 after this season which isn't that old, but given his playing style you can pretty much tack on a few years to his body. And being 31 (and given that he's producing now) would still give him high trade value. I'd sell him while we can get something good as opposed to re-signing him to what will probably be an overpayment, and then watching him decline and not getting assets back. With the emergence of Tarasenko and Schwartz (they'll get big deals), and having money tied up in Stastny and Steen and then probably Lehtera as well, I just don't want to give Backes a huge contract. We will regret that, IMO.
With Fabbri looking like he'll make the team next year, and Jaskin improving, and Barbashev in the system, we look pretty loaded at forward for the next several years anyways. I think this offseason might be the time to make a move like this, because we'll be able to remain a contender. So really all we would need to get for Backes is a 1st round pick and a solid roster player that is versatile - could play center or wing on the 2nd or 3rd-line. And maybe a throw-in, much like the Kesler deal. And wait for Barbashev to be ready which shouldn't take long. You'd have Stastny and Lehtera and the new guy as your top 9 centers which would be fine, and we're very strong on the wings.
Another thing is that I'm not sure about him as a captain, I've made that clear recently, and think we'd be fine with a guy like Schwartz or even Steen as captain. I feel our young guys like Tarasenko, Shattenkirk, and Pietrangelo are also ready to lead this team. You'll still have veterans like Stastny and maybe Jackman still as well. I wouldn't be too worried about the leadership.
Unfortunately I don't see Armstrong doing this at all. Maybe he will unless we completely fail in the first round, but I still see him moving Oshie and maybe even Steen before Backes, which I'd disagree with. But if I was Armstrong, I would strongly consider this. Backes looks better now with Steen and Oshie, but he didn't look too good to begin the season, and I'm starting to think that in the next year or two he will start declining. I think he has one more good year in him but then the season that he turns 33 I think we'll start seeing a different guy. That's also the season after he becomes a free agent.
Of course hopefully we just go to the cup and then don't really worry about any of this, but those are my thoughts.