Mikael Backlund Signs Two-Year Extension With Flames
Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund has signed a two-year contract extension worth $4.5 million in average annual value. The 34-year-old was set to hit unrestricted free agency following the 2023-24 campaign but will seemingly stick around in Calgary for at least two additional seasons. Backlund has spent his entire 15-year career with the Flames after they took him with the 24th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. The Swede has recorded 185 goals and 492 points across 908 career regular season games, including a career-high 56 points while skating in all 82 games for the second consecutive season in 2022-23. Backlund also took him his first career King Clancy Award last season, given annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice.
Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund isn't ready to commit himself to a new deal with the team at present. "I just want to see where this team is going," Backlund said this week. "I only have so many years left and I want to make the most of it. But I love Calgary. I'm not just going to take off and leave." Backlund, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, has spent his entire NHL career in Calgary, suiting up for over 900 games. At 34, he's in the twilight of his career, but that didn't keep him from having his best-ever campaign last season with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 82 games. The Swedish forward has been a great fit at the club, but the Flames need to have a good year to retain his services.
Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund found the back of the net two times in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders. He opened the scoring in the game 11:15 into the first period and put his team 3-1 up in the second, but the Flames were extinguished by a pair of third-period goals and a power-play marker in overtime. Calgary has been one of the biggest disappointments so far this season, with multiple players struggling to hit their stride. It's allowed Backlund to post the second-most goals on the squad with five. He's also had one assist through 11 games with 14 hits.
Mikael Backlund Rejoins Lineup For Sunday's Matchup
Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund (undisclosed) is good to go on Sunday against Toronto. The veteran forward missed Calgary's 3-2 loss against Edmonton on Friday and wasn't at Saturday's practice, but he took part in the team's optional morning skate on Sunday. Backlund is the team's fifth-best scorer this season with 19 points in 36 games, and he has fired off 95 shots and delivered 33 hits. The 31-year-old boasts eight power-play points for the year and could have some success here against a team that has managed to kill off only 77.7 percent of penalties.
Mikael Backlund Ends Dry Spell With Three-Point Performance
Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund stopped an eight-game point drought on Saturday with one goal and two assists in a 6-3 victory over Ottawa. He netted the team's second goal and had one short-handed assist and one even-strength assist to take his points tally for the year to 11. This marks Backlund's second three-point game of the season, so he's been very inconsistent so far. The 31-year-old Swede has averaged over 0.6 points per game in the past two campaigns and has a lot more in his locker than he's showed so far. The Flames have three of their next four games also against the Senators and their league-worst defense, so Backlund is perfectly set up to finally get going this season.
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