Backlund cleared for practice after concussion at World Cup
Mikael Backlund always planned to be skating Thursday in yellow togs. Just not like this. Backlund had this date marked on his calendar as Game 2 of the World Cup of Hockey final. The best-case scenario was that he would play a key role for Sweden as the boys in blue and yellow claimed another international title.
Instead, Backlund was twirling around the Saddledome ice in a bright no-contact jersey, his first practice session with his Calgary Flames teammates since suffering a concussion during preliminaryround action in Toronto. (The 27-year-old centre returned to Cowtown to recover from the injury, while the Swedes were eliminated by Team Europe 3-2 in overtime in a semifinal upset.)
“If I would’ve stayed and we were in the final, I probably could have played,” Backlund said. “But looking at the big picture, to be thrown in for a final game — Game 2 or Game 3 — wouldn’t have been ideal, even though it would have been a great experience. So it was a good decision to go back here.
“But right away, I didn’t feel that bad that I was worried.”
You can bet the higher-ups at the Saddledome — and fans across southern Alberta — were worried about Backlund after seeing replays of a high hit by Finland’s Sami Lepisto last Tuesday, but it’s certainly a positive sign that the Flames’ shutdown centre has already been cleared to participate in practice.
“It was fun to be back out there with the boys, and everything felt good,” said Backlund, who will be a spectator for Friday’s exhibition meeting with the Vancouver Canucks at the Saddledome.
“We’ll just take it day-by-day and see how I react to every step I take.
“I’m not stressed at all,” he added. “I feel confident that I’ll be back in time and feeling good when I do get back playing. Getting those few games before this camp, it was a good start. Every shift mattered. There was a lot at stake every game.
“So it was a fun way to start a season.”
While Backlund’s return to practice is good news, Flames first-line centre Sean Monahan (back strain) is still skating separately and isn’t expected to join the main group for the remainder of this week.
“It’s still optimistic,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan.
“At this juncture, with those types of things, you’d rather be cautious rather than rush it. Because then they can nag, and that’s the last thing we want. We want it to disappear.
“He’s put in a lot of work and he’s in good shape, so it’s not going to take him long ... He’s been involved with every meeting, so he’ll get upto-speed quick.”