Flames re-sign Backlund and have officially named him captain

It took some time, but the Calgary Flames and forward Mikael Backlund have finally come to terms on a new contract.

The Flames and Backlund have worked out a two-year extension on a contract that will carry an average annual value of $4.5 million. It comes in at a significantly lower cost than his current deal, which sits at $5.35 million.

“This is a very special day for my family and I,” said Backlund. “Calgary is our home and to
know that we will continue my playing career here is important to us. As well, the possibility to play my 1000th game this year as a Flame and celebrate it with our fans and the community is significant to me.

“I’m as equally proud to be named the captain of this historic franchise. I’m ready for the responsibility that goes with wearing the C and I’m surrounded by a strong leadership group in our locker room that will help us take the next step toward winning the Stanley Cup.”

Despite being 34 years old, Backlund has shown zero signs of decline in his game. In fact, it is quite the opposite, as he had a career year this past season in which he had 19 goals and a career-high 56 points in 82 outings. His defensive play continued to be as steady as ever, making the uptick in offensive production all the more impressive.

Shortly after the announcement was made, it was confirmed by the Flames that Backlund will be the organization’s captain. This seemed rather apparent in recent days, as several Flames voiced that they wanted him to wear the ‘C’ this season, while both general manager Craig Conroy and head coach Ryan Huska confirmed they would name a captain before the 2023-24 campaign got underway. Backlund will be the 20th captain in franchise history, and the first since Mark Giordano back in 2020-21.

While the two sides have clearly hashed things out and are happy to be linked to one another moving forward, there was serious belief earlier this offseason that Backlund would be traded elsewhere. Entering the final year of his contract, he expressed major hesitancy when asked about an extension at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. It is believed that his displeasure had to do with former head coach Darryl Sutter, who was reportedly very hard on the Swedish centreman. It seems as though Sutter’s firing played a major role in Backlund’s change of heart.

You might also like:
• Wife of Flames assistant GM Chris Snow shares heartbreaking update