Backlund put up 25 points playing 4th line minutes with next to no powerplay time. He plays a solid two-way game and shows flashes of 1st line talent.
I don't think Tarasenko is better right now. Who knows if he will ever be.
I don't think the two can really be compared, but I'll try:
Tarasenko is playing 3rd line minutes on a middler-team in the KHL as a 19-year old; somehow, he is putting up numbers similar to Alex Ovechkin, when he played at the same in age in a somewhat easier RSL. Next season, he'll be playing better minutes with better teammates, so we'll see how his stats go.
During the WJC Final he was injured in a nasty collision, ended up breaking a few ribs if I recall correctly. Despite his injury, he came back to help lead his team's 3rd period comeback against Team Canada and win the gold. One of his teammates called him the best Captain he had ever had. Tarasenko was also tied for 2nd in championship-wide scoring with his teammate Kuznetsov. Leadership? Check. Scoring? Check. Beautiful singing voice? You betcha.
So, maybe you haven't been following Tarasenko, but
I think you're underrating him a little bit
