Backlund's career has spanned 17 seasons - a franchise record for consecutive seasons played by a player - and has seen him pot 202 goals and 536 points. He's etched himself into the Flames franchise record books as the second-longest serving player in games played, the eighth-ranked skater in all-time points, the second-ranked short-handed goal-scorer (17), the third-ranked overtime goal-scorer (8), and the sixth-ranked game-winning goal-scorer (36). Since his first game in 2008-09, he leads all Flames skaters in takeaways with 793 and ranks second in hits over this span with 759.
Those numbers are indicative of his evolution as a player, starting back in 2007 when the Flames selected himself 24th overall in the NHL Draft. He's developed into one of the best defensive forwards in the league, a player who can be relied on at any point of the game.
"He’s a great skater, he’s strong, he’s competitive, in battles it’s hard to knock him off pucks. His overall 200-foot game has continually gotten better every year, and I think a lot of that has to do with his skating and what he does off the ice," said Backlund's former teammate and now-general manager Craig Conroy.
"He’s really a person that could be up for the Selke every year. It seems like now, if you don’t put up a tonne of points, you’re not in that conversation, which is a little unfair. For me, when you think of a defensive forward, you think of Mikael Backlund. I feel he should be recognized more for that, but I think he’s just out there to win every night and he’s always been such a competitor, right from the beginning all the way to now."
The Flames will celebrate his 1,000 games on Friday when they host the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. MT. Fans are advised to be in their seats early to take in the pregame ceremony. Tickets are available HERE.
