There is a huge milestone on the horizon for the Calgary Flames. Tonight, captain Mikael Backlund will play in his 1,000th career NHL game, an incredible accomplishment that only few can say they have done, and even fewer can say they did it all with one team. Backlund will join a very prestigious club when he suits up for the game tonight against the Utah Hockey Club.
Backlund has had an incredible career up to this point, and while he has never been a superstar player, he has been one of the most consistent defensive forwards in the league and has become a fantastic leader and ambassador for the Flames and the community in Calgary.
It wasn’t always this way as there were bumps in the road at the beginning of his career to get to this point, but to be where he is today is extremely impressive and it shows if you continue to work at it great things can happen. Backlund is a prime example of never giving up. Today, we are going to take a trip down memory lane and see how Backlund got here and some of his best moments throughout his career.
Where Backlund’s journey began
Back in 2007, the Flames selected Backlund in the first round at 24th overall in the 2007 NHL Draft. Backlund back then was not looked at as a potential fit as a great two-way forward. He was drafted in hopes of being a major scoring threat, which is why he was a first-round pick.
Before making his NHL debut, Backlund split time between playing in Sweden and playing in the WHL, in the 2009–10 season, Backlund would play his first professional season as he split time between the Flames and their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat. It was a frustrating time for Backlund as some thought he would never become a full-time NHL player, and he was sent to the minors to work on his defence. It is funny how things work out sometimes.
Things would change in the 2011–12 season as Backlund made the Flames and would become a full-time NHLer, the only issue is that he was limited to just 41 games that year due to an injury, and the same would happen the following season as Backlund would miss some of the lockout-shortened season in 2013, only suiting up in 32 games due to an injury. In 2013–14 however, Backlund would cement himself as a Calgary Flame—he had a bit of a breakout season playing in 76 games, scoring 18 goals and recording 39 points. From then on, Backlund would be an essential part of the Flames as their premier shutdown centre, he has not looked back since.
Backlund’s breakout campaign
Over the years, Backlund has always been considered a nice two-way forward by those in Flames circles, but no one league-wide really understood how well Backlund played the game on both ends of the ice until the 2016–17 season.
The Flames were coming off a disappointing 2015–16 where they missed the playoffs, but after some offseason moves that saw them draft Matthew Tkachuk sixth overall, trade for Brian Elliott and sign veterans in Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg, along with a young core that was only expected to get better, the Flames had some expectations to get back into the playoffs.
There were plenty of speed bumps that season, the Flames did manage to get into the playoffs, but it wasn’t easy, and they probably would not have gotten there without the play of Backlund. Early in the season, a line of Backlund between a rookie Tkachuk and veteran Michael Frolik would be formed and the infamous “3M Line” was born, and they were dominant.
Playing against the opposition’s top line every night, those three would be the team’s best line on many nights and were a huge reason why the Flames would make the playoffs. It was arguably Backlund’s best season as he scored 22 goals and had 53 points and he was the Flames’ most consistent player that season.
The Flames would get swept by the Anaheim Ducks that season, but Backlund would finish fourth in Selke Trophy voting that year, cementing himself as one of the league’s best two-way forwards. It was a truly special year for Backlund.
Becoming a leader in Calgary
It always felt like Backlund was a leader both on and off the ice for the Flames, but it wasn’t until the 2018–19 season that the Flames made him one officially. Backlund would be given an “A” to wear alongside captain Mark Giordano and the other two alternate captains in Sean Monahan and Tkachuk.
We always knew this was going to come. Backlund was fresh off of signing a six-year extension just the season prior and he was a huge part of the Flames community. It only felt right that he was getting the respect he deserved in the organization. This all culminated in 2023 as the Flames would name him captain as he officially took the reigns from long-time captain Giordano after he was taken in the expansion draft in 2021.
It was once again not a shock that Backlund earned the “C,” everyone knew it was coming and the time was finally right for the Flames to have their first captain since the 2020–21 season.
Backlund has done everything right so far in his career, and since becoming the official leader of the Flames, he has taken that to another level. He was the team’s captain for the two years prior without wearing the “C” according to all of his teammates, but him wearing it now only makes sense and it was the absolute right call for the organization.
Backlund’s best moments in his career
Backlund has had some huge moments in his career, but there are three that really stick out to me as a fan and each of these moments had major meaning.
Overtime winner against the Red Wings in 2017
The Flames were in a heated playoff race and needed every win they could get. After the Red Wings tied the game up late, the game went to overtime. Both teams traded chances until Frolik fed Backlund for a rush up the ice and Backlund unleashed a slap shot that beat Petr Mrazek to give the Flames the win. The Saddledome went nuts and the Flames were another win closer to the playoffs. It was just another moment that season that cemented Backlund as a major piece of the team and one of the best two-way forwards in the game. That game to me, is what really sparked the Flames run to the playoffs.
Massive third period in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Stars
It was Game 5 of the first round, the Flames were trailing in a pivotal game where the series was tied at two games a piece. The Flames needed a goal and Backlund came through. After a huge charge down the ice by Blake Coleman, Andrew Mangiapane picked up the puck and found a wide-open Backlund in front, who tipped a puck past Jake Oettinger to tie the game up.
He wasn’t finished there as he then assisted on Mangiapane’s goal later in the third which eventually stood as the game-winner. The Flames went on to win that series in seven, but without the heroics of Backlund and his line, the Flames very well could have lost that series.
Overtime winner in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ducks
It was Game 3 of the second round in 2015, and I am pretty sure every Flames fan can not only remember that magical season but also that very goal by Backlund. In a game where the late Johnny Gaudreau would score with just seconds left on the clock to force overtime, Backlund was the one who would ice it.
On a delayed call, Backlund came onto the ice as the extra attacker, the Flames played catch around the zone before Backlund took matters into his own hands a ripped a shot past Frederick Andersen to give the Flames the win. The Saddledome erupted, and just like that, the Flames were back in the series. While they ended up losing in five to the Ducks that season, that season was so much fun, and Backlund was a major reason for it.
An illustrious career in Calgary
Backlund has been one of the most beloved Flames for a long time. Even as a first-round draft pick, he still had to fight for everything that he has accomplished. Many thought he wouldn’t be here, there were even times when Backlund himself thought he may never get to this point.
It truly shows that if you work for everything that you want, you can make it happen. I don’t think there is a player in the organization right now that I would rather have representing the Flames on and off the ice than Backlund. He has demonstrated everything that it means to be a Calgary Flame.
Congratulations on 1,000 NHL games, Mikael!
