JANUARY 8 • CALGARYHERALD.COM
MIKAEL BACKLUND #11 - CENTER - CALGARY FLAMES
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Flames captain Mikael Backlund nears another major milestone Backlund will suit up Tuesday for his 949th career game in the Flaming C, tied with Mark Giordano for second-most in franchise history
Where do the Flames go after losing to the short-handed Blackhawks? "If you want to be a playoff team, that's a game you've got to win," Calgary captain Mikael Backlund said after a 4-3 loss to Chicago.
JANUARY 8 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Notches helper Thursday Backlund produced an assist and seven shots on goal in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Predators.
Impact Backlund set up linemate Blake Coleman for a first-period tally. With two goals and three assists over his last seven games, Backlund continues to produce offense at a solid rate. The 34-year-old center is up to 20 points, 100 shots on net and a plus-6 rating through 38 outings. He will likely continue to play a key middle-six role throughout the campaign.
JANUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE
Sets up empty-netter Backlund earned an assist, fired two shots on goal and added two hits in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Wild.
Impact Backlund has two goals and two assists over his last four games, continuing his steady but not explosive offense. He has just one multi-point effort, a two-goal game in Seattle on Nov. 4, this season. Overall, the center is at 19 points, 93 shots on net, 26 hits and a plus-5 rating through 37 appearances.
JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE
Tallies in Sunday's win Backlund scored a goal on two shots and went plus-2 in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Flyers.
Impact Backlund broke through with a tally late in the second period to tie the game at 1-1. The 34-year-old didn't have a multi-point effort in December, but he was solid with seven points over 13 appearances. The center is up to 18 points, 91 shots on net and a plus-4 rating through 36 appearances. That's a 41-point pace over a full campaign, which is normal for Backlund, but he's also typically stronger in the second half, so there may be some room for his offense to grow.
JANUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Generates helper Saturday Backlund registered an assist and four shots on goal in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Kings.
Impact Backlund set up a Rasmus Andersson marker in the first period. While he's no point-per-game threat, Backlund has three goals and three helpers over 11 outings in December. The center is up to 17 points, 86 shots on net, 24 hits and a plus-2 rating through 34 games in an all-situations role. He's on pace to reach the 40-point mark for the seventh time in the last nine years.
DECEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Tallies shorthanded goal Backlund scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 3-1 win over the Panthers.
Impact Backlund put the Flames ahead 2-1 early in the third period, beating Anthony Stolarz on a breakaway while shorthanded, the eventual game-winner in Calgary's 3-1 victory. The goal was Backlund's first in six games -- he'd tallied just two assists in that span. Overall, the 34-year-old center has six goals and 15 points through 31 games this season.
DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Backlund scores short-handed goal in 3rd period as Flames beat Panthers 3-1
Mikael Backlund scored a tiebreaking short-handed goal early in the third period, Jacob Markstrom stopped 34 shots, and the Calgary Flames beat the Florida Panthers 3-1DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Registers assist Tuesday Backlund posted an assist and four shots on goal in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Golden Knights.
Impact Backlund also won 14 of 20 faceoffs, playing a strong two-way game once again. The 34-year-old has two goals and three helpers over his last seven outings. Backlund has been steady as the third-line center, playing more of a de facto top-six role given his defensive responsibilities. He's up to 15 points, 72 shots on net, 21 hits, 13 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating through 29 appearances.
DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Pockets helper Monday Backlund registered an assist, four shots on goal, two hits and two PIM in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Avalanche.
Impact Backlund set up Blake Coleman's second-period tally, which put the Flames ahead 3-2. The helper ended a brief two-game dry spell for Backlund, his longest drought since another two-game one from Nov. 11-14. The 34-year-old center is not explosive on offense, but he's been relatively consistent. He's at 14 points, 68 shots on net, 20 hits and a plus-3 rating over 28 appearances this season in a middle-six role.
DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Deflects in goal Backlund scored a goal in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Wild.
Impact Backlund got a piece of a MacKenzie Weegar shot and redirected it past Filip Gustavsson for the Flames' first goal. With four goals and an assist over the last six games, Backlund has been steady from his third-line role lately. He's up to 13 points, 61 shots on net, 16 hits, 11 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating through 25 outings overall. That's pretty close to his usual season-long pace, and he typically gets better as the campaign progresses.
DECEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Finds twine on power play Backlund scored a power-play goal in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks.
Impact Backlund got the Flames on the board at 12:18 of the first period with his third goal in the last five games. The center has earned nine points of his 12 points this season over his last 15 contests. He's added 60 shots on net and a plus-5 rating through 24 appearances overall. The 34-year-old is known for his second-half surges, but playing with a more talented winger in Jonathan Huberdeau over the last couple of weeks appears to have sparked Backlund's offense early this season.
DECEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Produces assist Backlund notched an assist and three shots on goal in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Stars.
Impact Backlund helped out on a Noah Hanifin tally in the first period. In the third, Backlund nearly had his third goal in four games, but it was overturned for a missed hand pass earlier in the play. The center wrapped up November with eight points over 14 games, giving him four goals, seven assists, 59 shots on net and a plus-5 rating through 23 contests overall.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Nets only goal in loss Backlund scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Avalanche.
Impact The Flames' breakthrough came at 12:03 of the second period, as chaos in front of the net allowed Jonathan Huberdeau to set up Backlund for the tally. That's goals in back-to-back outings for Backlund. He's up to four markers, 10 points, 53 shots on net, 15 hits and a plus-6 rating through 21 appearances. While he's listed on the third line, Backlund effectively remains a top-six forward given his usage in all situations.
NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Tallies in win Backlund scored a goal and added two PIM in Friday's 7-4 win over the Stars.
Impact Backlund snapped an eight-game goal drought with his third-period insurance tally. During that span, the center had a modest three assists with 20 shots on net. He's a notorious slow starter, but Backlund is up to nine points, 51 shots on net, 13 hits, six PIM and a plus-5 rating through 20 contests this season. That's right on track with how he started 2022-23, which saw him end with a career-best 56 points.
NOVEMBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Records 500th point Backlund picked up an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Monday's 4-3 overtime win over the Kraken.
Impact Backlund set up Rasmus Andersson for a wraparound in overtime, and Andersson cashed in on a rebound. That gave Backlund his 500th career point, an achievement he completed in his 926th contest. The center has been limited to three helpers over his last seven contests. He's at eight points, 50 shots on net, 13 hits, nine blocked shots and a plus-3 rating through 18 outings overall. Backlund may benefit from having playmaking winger Jonathan Huberdeau on his line.
NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Sends assist in win Backlund recorded an assist and four shots on goal in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Canucks.
Impact Backlund has two helpers over his last four contests. He set up Jonathan Huberdeau's third-period tally -- those two were on a line with Blake Coleman in an effort to give the Flames some veteran consistency. Backlund has held his own early this season with seven points, 44 shots on net, 12 hits, seven blocked shots and a plus-4 rating over 16 appearances.
NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Contributes helper Friday Backlund logged an assist and two shots on goal in Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs.
Impact Backlund set up Martin Pospisil on the Flames' game-tying goal in the third period. The 34-year-old Backlund has three points over his last three outings, giving him two goals and four assists through 13 contests this season. He's added 38 shots on net, nine hits, seven blocked shots and a plus-2 rating while skating on the third line with playing time in all situations.
NOVEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Scores pair in win Backlund scored two goals on four shots and went plus-3 in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Kraken.
Impact Backlund converted at 4:00 of the third period after Philipp Grubauer failed to freeze the puck following an A.J. Greer breakaway. Later in the frame, Backlund's banked clearance off the boards found the empty net. The pair of goals ended his three-game point drought. The 34-year-old center is at five points, 30 shots on net, a plus-2 rating, four PIM, seven hits and five blocked shots through 11 outings in his usual middle-six role. Backlund is no stranger to slow starts to seasons, so fantasy managers rostering him in the first half of the year will need to pack patience.
NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Slings assist Backlund logged an assist in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Rangers.
Impact Backlund has a helper in each of the last three games. The 34-year-old center is one of the few Flames making a positive impact during their three-game losing streak. For the season, he has three assists, 21 shots on net, four blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over seven contests in a middle-six role.
OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Provides helper in loss Backlund registered an assist and five shots on goal in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Red Wings.
Impact Backlund has a helper in each of the last two games after coming up empty in the first four contests of the season. He put a shot on net that led to a rebound for Andrew Mangiapane's goal Sunday. In addition to his two assists, Backlund has added 21 shots on net, four blocked shots, three hits, four PIM and an even plus-minus rating. He has consistently played on the third line and second power-play unit.
OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Gets on board with assist Backlund picked up an assist in Friday's 3-1 road loss against the Blue Jackets.
Impact Backlund was blanked in the first four games, posting a minus-1 rating and 14 shots on goal. He snapped his scoreless skid with the assist, which came on a shorthanded goal by Elias Lindholm midway through the third period. The 34-year-old Backlund registered a career-high 56 points last season, so he still has plenty left in the tank. He and his team are back at it Sunday against the Red Wings.
OCTOBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Elias Lindholm Rips Shorthanded Goal On Mikael Backlund's Stretch Pass
OCTOBER 21, 2023 • YOUTUBE
After Mikael Backlund extension, the Flames' core must begin to erase memory of last season The Flames will soon begin to see if their core can truly match up against the best teams in the Western Conference.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Flames center Mikael Backlund signs 2-year extension, named captain
Center Mikael Backlund has signed a two-year, $9-million extension with the Calgary Flames and has been named captainSEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
