News: The Sun Sentinel reports the Panthers have invited free agent defensemen Martin Skoula and Christian Backman to training camp. Neither player has signed a contract, but both will be in camp when it opens Sunday.
Analysis: Backman really has to prove himself after a down season with Columbus in 2008-09. He has 302 NHL games under his belt and could definitely provide some depth for Florida, but even if he makes the squad, he will have minimal Fantasy appeal Draft Day.
News:The Sports Xchange reports it's too easy to pick on defenseman Christian Backman, and -- to be fair -- not much was expected from him when he came to the Blue Jackets in an offseason deal with the New York Rangers. Backman was a throw-in, helping the Rangers get salary cap relief. Still, it was hard to watch him play without wondering who in the world signed him to a $3.4 million contact. He looked nervous, indecisive and not very skilled -- three bad character traits for an NHL defenseman.
Analysis: Backman is set to become a free agent July 1 and it's unlikely we will see him back in a Columbus uniform next season. Backman appeared in just 56 games last season, many times a healthy scratch, recording two goals and five assists. He had 18 points in each of the previous four seasons. Backman is likely to sign with someone, but he still is more of a defensive player. He has minimal Fantasy appeal Draft Day.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Blue Jackets D Christian Backman ended a 40-game drought without a goal when he scored the overtime winner Saturday vs. San Jose. He's scored two goals this season, both vs. San Jose.
Analysis: Backman has played just 10 times since January and has been in coach Ken Hitchcock's doghouse for quite a long time. If he keeps being productive when he gets ice time, that could change. For now, he is not worth the time of day in Fantasy.
News:The Sports Xchange reports D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen might get more playing time in the wake of the Blue Jackets' trade for C Jason Williams. With Williams able to play the point, its easier to scratch D Christian Backman.
Analysis: Backman has been a regular in the Blue Jackets lineup this season, but hasn't recorded a point since Oct. 24. It's not hard to see why Columbus is frustrated with him. Backman has not had a good first season in Columbus and has little to no Fantasy appeal.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Blue Jackets D Christian Backman was a healthy scratch for the first time this season Sunday against the Ducks. He doesn't have a point since Oct. 24.
Analysis: Backman, making $3.4 million in the final year of his contract, was acquired in the off-season trade that sent Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche to the Rangers for defenseman Fedor Tyutin and Backman. He started his Columbus career with a three-game point streak, but he has just one point in his next 22 contests. It's not hard to see why Columbus put him on the bench. Backman doesn't have a lot of offensive skill and can be ignored in Fantasy.
News: Columbus D Christian Backman (lower body) was able to get into Tuesday's game vs. Vancouver in which the Blue Jackets won 4-2. Backman spent 15:55 on the ice and was minus-1. He didn't take any shots on goal or score any points but did draw a power play for his team when Henrik Sedin was called for hooking him in the 1st period.
Analysis: Backman has gotten off to a nice start in his Columbus career with one goal and two assists in four games. He is off to a way better start than when he was with the Blues or Rangers. Perhaps Ken Hitchcock knows how to get the most out of Backman. He is a low-end Fantasy option at this time.
News: Blue Jackets defenseman Christian Backman missed Saturday's game against the Predators with a lower body injury. He is day to day and questionable for Tuesday against the Canucks.
Analysis: Backman has gotten off to a nice start in his Columbus career with one goal and two assists in four games. He is off to a way better start than when he was with the Blues or Rangers. Perhaps Ken Hitchcock knows how to get the most out of Backman. Continue to keep tabs on his progress, but right now he is a low-end Fantasy option when healthy. Consider him an injury-risk start Fantasy Week 3 (Oct. 20-26).
News: Blue Jackets D Christian Backman scored a power-play goal during Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Sharks. Backman scored on a slap shot past Evgeni Nabokov in the second period. It was his first goal as a member of the Blue Jackets.
Analysis: Backman has at least one point in each of his first three games with Columbus and is off to a way better start than when he was with the Blues or Rangers. Perhaps Ken Hitchcock knows how to get the most out of Backman. Continue to keep tabs on his progress, but right now he is a low-end Fantasy option.
News:The Sports Xchange reports one of the interesting plot lines of training camp for the Blue Jackets will be how the defensive pairs will settle. Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock has said he wants to pair Mike Commodore with Jan Hejda and Rostislav Klesla with Fedor Tyutin, but the third pair remains a mystery. In the mix for the two spots are Christian Backman, Kris Russell, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Aaron Rome, Clay Wilson and Marc Methot.
Analysis: It almost seems logicial that Tollefsen will make the team out of camp because he is one of the Blue Jackets' top enforcers. He might not play every night, so that's where the other guys come into play. Regardless, Backman, Russell, Rome, Wilson and Methot are all expected to rotate in 2008-09, so they remain poor Fantasy options. Tollefsen, however, is a viable Fantasy option in leagues that reward heavily for PIM.
News: The Blue Jackets traded enigmatic RW Nikolai Zherdev and C Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers for D Christian Backman and D Fedor Tyutin on Wednesday.
Analysis: Zherdev put up a career-high 61 points last season. He was only owned in 32 percent of leagues at the beginning of the year, but finished the campaign owned in a solid 87 percent. He is a solid low-end starting forward in most formats and could have an even better season in 2008-09. Tyutin is a decent young blue-liner, but shouldn't be drafted except in the deepest of formats. Fritsche put up only 22 points last season and should continue to be ignored in all leagues. Finally, Backman has never been much of an offensive producer in his four full NHL seasons, so ignore him too. All in all, Zherdev is the only one worth worrying about in this deal.
News: Rangers D Christian Backman scored his first goal with New York during Sunday's game against the Flyers. He wristed a shot past Antero Niittymaki at 1:51 of the second period and sent Niittymaki to the bench.
Analysis: Backman is a big, physical Swedish defenseman who doesn't contribute on the offense side of things very often. He has 65 points in 230 career games, so continue to ignore him in all but the deepest of Fantasy formats.
News: The St. Louis Blues traded D Christian Backman to the New York Rangers on Tuesday for a fourth-round pick.
Analysis: Backman is a big, physical Swedish defenseman who doesn't contribute on the offense side of things very often. He has 45 points in 228 career games, so continue to ignore in all but the deepest of Fantasy formats.
News: Blues D Christian Backman played in his second consecutive game Sunday against the Coyotes after missing several weeks with a foot injury. He did not record a point for the second straight game and finished at minus-1 in 14:17 of ice time.
Analysis: Backman plays nearly 20 minutes per game when healthy, but he sure doesn't produce enough to warrant heavy use in Fantasy leagues. He is still a poor Fantasy option at this time.
News: Blues D Christian Backman skated again Monday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and could return from his foot injury very soon. He has been removed from injured reserve.
Analysis: Backman has 10 points in 43 games this season and is merely a low-end Fantasy flier when healthy. Keep him reserved until at least Fantasy Week 23 (Feb. 25-Mar. 2).
News:The Sports Xchange reports Blues D Christian Backman, who is on injured reserve with a cracked bone in his foot, skated Sunday for the first time since suffering the injury Feb. 1.
Analysis: Backman had been active for most of the Blues' games this season until he went on IR. He has 10 points in 43 games and is merely a low-end Fantasy flier when healthy. Keep him reserved through Fantasy Week 20 (Feb. 11-17).
News: Before Saturday's game against Colorado, the Blues placed D Christian Backman on injured reserve after suffering a cracked bone in his left foot blocking a shot on Friday's victory over Anaheim. Backman is expected to miss one to two weeks.
Analysis: Backman has one goal and nine assists this season which makes him a low-end Fantasy flier in the deepest of Fantasy leagues.
News: Low-scoring defenseman Christian Backman had a goal and an assist for the Blues Sunday against the Canucks. Backman scored his first goal of the season and set up Keith Tkachuk's breakaway goal in the second period, giving him 10 points in 39 games.
Analysis: Backman's goal ended a 39-game drought. He had seven goals last season and six in 2005-06. He now has three points in his last five games. Despite his recent surge, he still remains just a low-end Fantasy flier in the deepest of Fantasy leagues.
News: Blues D Christian Backman ended a long point drought when he claimed an assist in St. Louis' 3-2 OT loss to the Oilers on Wednesday night.
Analysis: Backman has yet to score this season and he's on pace for just 18 assists, so don't worry about him in Fantasy play outside of larger leagues.
News: Blues D Christian Backman skated in his 200th career game Monday against Nashville.
Analysis: Backman has yet to score this season and he's on pace for just 18 assists, so don't worry about him in Fantasy play outside of larger leagues.
News: D Christian Backman replaced D Eric Brewer (shoulder) on the No. 1 power-play unit. The Blues like how Backman controls the puck.
Analysis: Backman's Fantasy value rises, but it is limited to larger Fantasy leagues at this point.
News: D Christian Backman, D Eric Brewer, D Barret Jackman and C Doug Weight were each scoreless with a minus-1 rating in Thursday's regular season opener in Phoenix in a loss.
Analysis: Backman's Fantasy value is limited to the deepest of Fantasy formats at this point.
News: D Christian Bäckman, D Eric Brewer, C Petr Cajanek, D Barret Jackman and C Ryan Johnson picked up assists in Sunday's game against Minnesota.
Analysis: Despite the point, Bäckman is only worth using in the largest of Fantasy formats.
News: Keith Tkachuk and Christian Bäckman each scored goals in Tuesday's game against the Sharks.
Analysis: Bäckman also had an assist in 23:32 of ice time, as he looked fully recovered from a lower body injury which kept him sidelined for four games.
News: Christian Bäckman (lower body) was back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Sharks.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Bäckman into the active Fantasy lineup in all larger leagues which allow daily transactions.
News: Blues D Christian Backman (lower body) did not play Saturday against the Flyers.
Analysis: Backman remains day to day. When healthy, he is only worth a look in the largest of Fantasy formats.
News: Christian Bäckman (lower body injury) missed his third straight game on Thursday against the Red Wings.
Analysis: Bäckman remains day to day. When healthy, he is only worth a look in the largest of Fantasy formats.
News: Christian Bäckman (lower body injury) missed Tuesday’s game against Toronto.
Analysis: Bäckman remains day to day. Keep him reserved in all Fantasy leagues until he can officially return and prove his health.
News: D Christian Backman (lower-body injury) sat out of Saturday's game against Dallas. He was replaced in the lineup by D Matt Walker, who missed a couple of games with a foot injury. Backman is listed as day-to-day.
Analysis: Backman is a low-end Fantasy defender when healthy. He should be kept reserved in Fantasy leagues until he returns to the ice.
News: D Christian Bäckman, LW Peter Sejna and D Dennis Wideman all scored goals in Monday's game at Phoenix. Bäckman was a plus-2, while Sejna had a plus-1 and Wideman was even.
Analysis: Bäckman remains a decent No. 5 or 6 Fantasy defenseman in leagues of 12 or more teams.
News: D Christian Backman returned to the Blues' lineup on Saturday after sitting out seven games. He injured his right knee Dec. 26 at Nashville.
Analysis: Backman should only get a look in larger Fantasy leagues at this time.
News: Christian Bäckman "tweaked" his right knee in Tuesday's game against the Predators, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He is expected to miss at least three weeks.
Analysis: Bäckman should be reserved in all larger Fantasy leagues. Ds Jamie Rivers and Matt Walker should see an increase in playing time, but neither is particularly attractive from a Fantasy perspective.
News: Christian Bäckman (flu) was able to play in Tuesday's game against the Red Wings. He picked up an assist on St. Louis' only goal in 20:14 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Bäckman back into the active Fantasy lineup in all leagues which allow daily transactions.
News: St. Louis D Christian Backman sat out Friday's game against the Blackhawks with the flu.
Analysis: Consider Backman day-to-day, but he should be back in the lineup soon. The Blues have a few days off before playing the Red Wings on Dec. 5.
News: Christian Bäckman (head) was able to play in Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets. He had an assist and plus-1 rating in 22:21 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Bäckman activated in all larger leagues for Fantasy Week 7 (Nov. 13-19).
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Christian Backman might have a concussion. He was blasted with a couple of titanic hits in Saturday's game against Calgary and was unable to play in the third period.
Analysis: Backman is considered day to day for now and the Blues do not play again until Friday. Since they have just two games in Fantasy Week 6 (Nov. 6-12), he should be reserved in all cumulative leagues anyhow.
News: Christian Bäckman (wrist) returned to the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Wings.
Analysis: Bäckman was scoreless with a minus-1 rating in 29:47 of ice time.
News: Christian Bäckman missed Thursday's game at Columbus due to a wrist injury.
Analysis: Bäckman was injured in Tuesday's game, but the injury was not considered serious enough to cost him time. He is now considered day to day.
News: Christian Bäckman scored the game-winning goal in overtime on Monday against the Blue Jackets. He also had a plus-1 rating in 27:21 of ice time.
Analysis: Bäckman has lit the lamp in three of the past five games, but those are only his points in 11 games. He remains useful only in larger Fantasy leagues right now.
News: Christian Bäckman picked up an assist and minus-1 rating with three shots on goal in Wednesday's opening round win against Team Kazakhstan in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Analysis: Bäckman has posted three goals and 10 assists with a minus-9 rating in 28 games with the Blues at the Olympic Games break. He is a decent addition to a Fantasy roster if you are desperate for a rearguard once play resumes.
News: Christian Bäckman (hip) was back in the lineup for Wednesday's game at Vancouver. He was scoreless with a plus-1 rating in 22:28 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Bäckman back into the active Fantasy lineup in all leagues which allow daily transactions.
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Christian Backman suffered a bruised right hip in the second period against Chicago Thursday and didn't return to the game.
Analysis: Backman hasn't been the healthiest player recently, but he does have four points (1G, 3A) in his past six games.
News: Christian Bäckman scored a goal and added an assist with a plus-3 rating in Monday's game against the Canucks in 19:50 of ice time.
Analysis: Bäckman has played in three games since returning from injury and he looks to be 100 percent. If you need defense help in larger Fantasy leagues, he is definitely worth a roster spot.
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Bäckman (broken foot) is expected to return to the team before the end of the month.
Analysis: Bäckman posted two goals and seven assists in 17 games before his injury. His return will be very welcome, especially with Eric Brewer (shoulder) out indefinitely.
News: Bäckman (foot) remains sidelined, as he continues to recover from a fractured foot. He is likely out at least another week to 10 days.
Analysis: Bäckman, recently named to the Team Sweden roster for the 2006 Winter Olympics, is a decent Fantasy defenseman in larger leagues when healthy.
News: Christian Backman was placed on injured reserve on Saturday due to a fractured foot. He was injured in the third period of Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets.
Analysis: Backman is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks, so keep him reserved in all Fantasy leagues until at least late December.
News: Christian Backman (shoulder) returned from a conditioning assignment with Worcester of the AHL on Saturday. He was scoreless and a plus-1 rating in 18:41 of ice time.
Analysis: Backman does not warrant any Fantasy consideration.
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Christian Backman (shoulder bruise) is with Worcester of the AHL on a conditioning assignment.
Analysis: Backman might be recalled from Worcester in time for Saturday's game against the Predators, but he is not worth using in most Fantasy leagues.
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Christian Backman left Tuesday's game against Philadelphia with a shoulder contusion and was unable to return.
Analysis: Backman's status is uncertain, but even when healthy, he is not useful from a Fantasy perspective.
