Flames sign Backlund to six-year extension
Centre with six-year contract extension entering the prime of his career, GM says
When Mikael Backlund arrived Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome to put his signature on a six-year contract extension with the Calgary Flames, it had just started to snow.
Again.
When he and fiancee Frida exited the rink a short time later, heading home to celebrate the US$32.1 million pact with a mini-bottle of Champagne, it was blizzarding. Yeah, again.
“We just started laughing,” Backlund said. “I mean, I think we have enough snow. It can just lay on the ground now and be sunny. That’s what I’d like.”
Despite another wintry wallop, every hockey fan from Bowness to Britannia, from Aspen Hills to Auburn Bay, must have been beaming with Friday’s early-evening announcement that the Flames have locked up their shutdown centre to a long-term pact. The extension, which carries an average salarycap hit of US$5.35-million, kicks in next season.
The 28-year-old Backlund was slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Instead, he is signed at the Saddledome through the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
“I’m very happy it’s done,” Backlund said. “When you think about it, it’s a little nerve-racking, maybe going to UFA. Of course, it crossed my mind but from the beginning, we’ve always said we wanted to stay in Calgary and I’m just so excited and relieved to have it done.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s been on my mind for the whole year. I think I have more in myself than I’ve showed this year, so I’m excited it’s over and hopefully I can help this team even more now and make the playoffs.”
A first-round selection of the Flames in the 2007 NHL Draft, Backlund has grown into a key role in Calgary. The smooth-skating Swede is now entrenched as the middleman on the 3M Line, skating between wingers Michael Frolik and Matthew Tkachuk on a trio that is always matched up against the opposing stars.
Backlund has tallied 104 goals and 158 assists — before you open the calculator app on your phone, that’s 262 points — in 519 career appearances for the Flames.
He posted a career-high 53 points last season and finished fourth in voting for the Selke Trophy, an annual nod to the NHL’s best defensive forward.
Backlund has 10 goals and two dozen assists in 58 outings so far this winter.
“In a lot of ways, I think he’s just now — if you look at the last year or so — entering the prime of his career,” said Flames general manager Brad Treliving. “To me, he’s one of the top two-way centres in the league. You just have to look around at teams that win, and I’ve said it many times how I think you build a team, and that’s right through the middle of the ice — centre-ice, defence and goaltender.
“To get one of those guys that can play in every situation against anybody. You get those guys signed, it’s a good day. We’re happy to get that business taken care of.”
The feeling is mutual. Because Mikael and Frida don’t mind the occasional blast of wintry weather, and the just-extended centre figures he’ll be spending a lot of time in Calgary in the spring and even summer months.
FRIENDLY FUTURE
After all, the Flames have superstar left-winger Johnny Gaudreau signed through 2021-22 at an annual price tag — US$6.75 million per — that already seems like a bargain.
His first-line sidekick, centre Sean Monahan, is under contract through 2022-23.
Top-pairing defenceman Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
So the future looks friendly at the Saddledome, even if the outside forecast doesn’t always.
“Me and Frida, we’ve put our roots down here, and it’s our home. We’re just so excited to stay here,” Backlund said. “I’ve been through some tough times here and some good times, and now I’m very excited because the team is only going to get better. The mission here is just to win. That’s what I like about the organization. All they want to do is just win that Cup, and that’s what I’m very excited about it.
“Going forward, I think we have a really good group and a really good team. I don’t think there’s any team out there that we cannot beat. So I’m very excited about our future here.”
The mission here is just to win. That’s what I like about the organization. All they want to do is just win that Cup, and that’s what I’m very excited about it.