Flames sign captain Mikael Backlund to two-year extension

Drafted by then-GM Darryl Sutter with the No. 24 overall pick in 2007, Backlund made his NHL debut with the Flames in the 2008-09 season. He’s now entering his 18th season in Calgary, having played for eight different head coaches over that span (Mike Keenan, Brent Sutter, Bob Hartley, Glen Gulutzan, Bill Peters, Geoff Ward, Darryl Sutter, and Ryan Huska).

Huska was Backlund’s head coach when he played for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets in the 2008-09 season. He played for Team Sweden at the World Juniors on two separate occasions and captained the national team to gold at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. Even now, in his late 30s, Backlund could have a shot at wearing the Tre Kronor once again at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

Backlund established himself as one of the premier two-way centers in the league during the 2010s, having finished in the top 10 in Selke Trophy voting on three occasions. He has surpassed 20 goals in three seasons and 40 points in six.

The Flames went without a captain for two seasons after losing Mark Giordano to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft. Backlund was finally selected as Giordano’s replacement prior to the 2023-24 season, and his new contract should keep him that role for at least five total seasons — just in time for Scotia Place to replace the Saddledome in 2027.

In 1,066 career NHL games over his 17 seasons in Calgary, Backlund has collected 215 goals and 563 points. He’s added 12 goals and 22 points in 42 playoff contests. He ranks seventh on the Flames’ all-time leaderboard in goals, assists, and points, and is behind only Jarome Iginla (1,219) in games played.