I would be fine with selling high on Backlund, provided the return was right.. I'd be in the minority, however.
The real issue here is cap dollars. How much of a home town discount is Backs willing to concede before he checks out his other options.
Most don't realize how hard it is going to be to fit all of the contracts coming due in the next couple years.
First to contend you need a goalie and that is going to cost between 5-7 million a season. (Gillies will not be ready for next year and yes with this nucleus the team has to be ready to contend.)
Next you have to sign Bennett to a bridge deal that will likely be in the neighborhood of 3M per for 2-3 years.
Lazar luckily for the Flames will likely sign a show me contract around $1.5M.
The Flames will likely need to sign a back-up, Stone and one other D-man to contracts leaving a spot for a graduate of the AHL.
The year after Backlund's contract is up Matthew Tkachuk will need to be signed and there is no way, from everything to this point that he will sign for less than Johnny or Monahan. Janko will likely be playing with the big club and will need to be resigned. Then you have Klimmer, Shinkaruk, Poirier, Andersson, Kylington, Mangiapane, Kulak and a few others could also make impressions requiring contracts and spots in the line-up.
Simply put if a contract is not signed by the trading deadline next year I could see him being moved.
On the open market Backs will garner 6-7M with teams like Montreal, Carolina, Ottawa, Detroit, and New Jersey in the mix. This year will make him worth Bergeron money as his underlying numbers and point production will put him on par with Patrice when he was about the same age.
IMO there will be no way the Flames will be able to afford his contract.