"It's a very cool milestone," said Backlund, who will pass Al MacInnis with his 804th career appearance in red silks. "It feels very special to play for that long for one franchise. I'm very thankful to a lot of people along the way here in Calgary to help me get to where I am today."
Fifteen years with one organization is basically unheard of in today's game.
The business side, including a salary cap, max term, and performance-based factors make player movement more common than ever before. And, typically, individual careers are shorter nowadays, too.
But Backlund is special.
He's given everything to this franchise, invested himself in the community, and still plays a key role on a team that has a chance to win it all this year.
Back in 2007, then-GM Darryl Sutter could see there was a player here.
"No. 1, for sure, was hockey sense," Sutter explained of the Swede's draft pedigree. "Hockey IQ, you always look for it. There are guys that go fast, but they get the puck and aren't sure what's going on, can't read plays, stuff like that. Doesn't matter what position it is. So, you've got to have great hockey IQ and you have to have the skill-set to along with that IQ."
From Flames Communications Director Sean Kelso "staring (him) down" before he taken in the first round, 24th overall, to that memorable first meeting with Sutter on stage, Backlund has fond memories of his draft-day experience.
And the 'do?
Sutter ensured it was left unfettered.
"I remember walking on stage and I put my hat on and Darryl goes, 'No, that's for baseball players,' Backlund laughed. "That's why I'm not wearing my hat in my draft picture.
"That was Darryl. You all know Darryl. He was dead serious, too, when he said it. It's not like I was going to put it on then!
"It was a special day, a special night.
"Pretty cool I'm still here."