Talk About Pressure

Mikael Backlund who will be suiting up for Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships is in an unique situation. Reports out of Sweden are that his club team, Vasteras, might cut him if he doesn't "perform well" at the World Junior Championships.

According to a report by Swedish journalist Robert Pettersson, team officials with Vasteras are threatening to cut the 19-year-old should he falter on behalf of his country.

The first thing that came to my mind was, "I thought this type of stuff only happened in the old Soviet Union." Threaten to cut a player because of his play when he's not playing for you. If you want to cut him, go ahead but don't do it on his play when he's not playing for you. What's next? Victor Hedman beening released by MODO? John Tavares being traded by Oshawa if he doesn't bring home Gold? Wait that might happen.

Here's Calgary Flames GM, Darryl Sutter's comments:

"There's not only one place in the universe where he can play hockey," Sutter said Wednesday after the Flames defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in overtime.

I think in the back of his mind, Sutter is hoping Vasteras cuts him so it will be easier for Calgary to sign him this summer. The Flames tried to persuade Backlund to make the jump to the WHL where his rights belong to the Kelowna Rockets. He would be a big addition to the Rockets but the Small Thoughts At Large blog brings up an interesting point:

Or....the Hitmen have an open import spot, maybe the Flames would like to see Backlund playing under their noses in Calgary. In that case, the Rockets should be able to extort a pretty decent price from the Hitmen for Backlund's rights. Could be interesting.

I don't know what the Rockets are looking to do this season. They seem to have enough good players that they could make a run this season. The only problem is the Vancouver Giants are 19 points ahead of them in the B.C. Division. The Hitmen are leading the Central Division. The Hitmen are owned by the Flames, would they trade for their own player? I would highly doubt it because he will be only with the Hitmen for half of a year. The Flames could also send him to the AHL also.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)