Backlund looking to rebound
Veteran Swede’s strong two- way game could help turn things around
Mikael Backlund has been through this before. Marty Gelinas has seen it. “Confidence is a big part of it,” said the Calgary Flames assistant coach who, as a former centreman, keeps a close eye on the pivots. “When you get a goal or two and start to make plays and get confidence. When you start searching for what you can do, you can sometimes get lost.
“I think he just has to get back to basics and start believing in his ability to make that happen.”
Heading into the 2015- 16 National Hockey League season, the Flames — who had been starving for depth and experience up the middle — were supposed to be deeper. And they should, in theory, finally have that with Backlund, Calgary’s 24th overall in the 2007 NHL draft.
He’s been around the league long enough, played 310 NHL games, and was also a cog in the Flames 2015 playoff run.
No longer is he a young rookie. No longer does he have a grace period.
But, early on this year, Backlund is struggling in many facets of his game.
“It’s been a pretty up and down season,” he said on Monday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “Pretty inconsistent. But it hasn’t been all terrible. I think I’ve had some good games. Just not enough of them ... have to find a way to pick it up.” A quick look at his numbers. He’s been averaging 14: 25 minutes of ice time per game, the sixthmost on the team. He contributes on the penalty kill and has played the fifth- most when the Flames are even- strength.
At Edmonton on Saturday, his ice time dropped to 9: 22: his secondlowest total ice time since he logged 8: 28 on Oct. 13 at home against St. Louis. So, there’s that — evidence of a rough few games.
Then, there’s his point production: one goal and zero assists in 12 games.
Truth be told, Backlund has never put up big numbers in the NHL ( his best year being an 18 goal and 21 assist performance in 76 games during 2013- 14) and, at his peak, he might be a 20- goal scorer. But, at least in his career with the Flames, the 26- year- old has become a dependable source of secondary scoring. And, more importantly, he’s been billed as a strong two- way forward.
“When he’s playing solid, oneonone with guys, he’s an efficient player,” Gelinas said. “With the puck, he has a great skill set. He’s very skilled and talented. He’s a strong guy, a strong body. He needs to hang onto that puck a little more offensively to make plays.”
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been enough productive playmaking to hit the scoresheet.
Off the faceoff circle, it’s been a struggle ( a team- wide issue, in fact). After 12 games, Backlund has won 28 defensive faceoffs which is the second- best on the team to Matt Stajan. He’s also lost 29 defensive draws ( only second- worst to Sean Monahan who has lost 61). In the offensive zone, he’s operating at 42.6 per cent while he’s 45.8 per cent in the neutral zone.
As for his shooting percentage, he has taken as many shots as Johnny Gaudreau ( 23) but he’s also missed 10 shots — a team high and all 10 of which went wide. On top of it, he’s minus- seven. “I need to be better in our own zone and clean it up,” Backlund said. “I’m not happy at all with minus- seven. I don’t think anybody would be. That’s something I’m trying to be better at.” That’s not all. “I need to be stronger on the puck and can’t turn pucks over,” Backlund said, elaborating on his own self- improvements. “I can’t lose guys ( on coverage), either. ( Making) simple plays. Things like that. I need to be more confident and stronger on the puck.”
Fresh off a summer where he received a healthy raise and signed a three- year extension with the Flames, earning $ 3.75 million per year, Backlund looked primed for a strong start.
Unlike the beginning of the 201415 season which saw him dealing with an abdominal injury for much of the first few months of the year, he was mostly healthy to start this year.
“When I’m playing well, everything comes naturally,” he said. “When I’m not, I struggle offensively, and that’s what it’s been lately. I haven’t been creating enough chances and, just overall, I haven’t been strong enough ... I can’t blame it on anything but myself.”
Bob Hartley is aware of Backlund’s play.
The Flames head coach had a lengthy chat with the pivot at Monday’s skate before the team headed off to Denver. Neither player nor boss would reveal the details of the “normal” pep talk.
“Hey, it’s a young season,” Hartley said. “He got hurt in camp, so it’s obviously been a lot tougher than expected. It’s a young season. We obviously count on him. He’s one of our best two- way players and is a great centreman for us. “He’s going to be all right.” Gelinas agrees. “It’s just simplifying,” he said. “A lot of it, in our game, is confidence. Once you have that, things start going your way. And he’s not too far off that. He’s almost there.”
When I’m playing well, everything comes naturally. When I’m not, I struggle offensively, and that’s what it’s been lately.