Calgary Flames Sign Mikael Backlund – Six Years, 32.1 Million

Mikael Backlund has been one of the Calgary Flames most important forwards over the past few years. Individuals like Lance Bouma and Joe Colborne have made themselves a mint by getting the chance to play with the Swedish Superstar. Now Backlund is getting paid himself.

This is a good deal for the Flames. Backlund is a possession specialist and has the 13th best relative Fenwick percentage in the league over the past three season out of forwards with at least 1000 minutes (that’s a 381 player sample size). He’s critical for the Flames defense and penalty kill.

Backlund puts up some decent standard stats as well. So far this season he has ten goals and 24 assists in 58 contests. That puts him on pace for 48 points so far this season.

With Michael Frolik signed and Matthew Tkachuk under team control thanks to restricted free agency, this move means that the 3M line, one of the most pivotal lines in all of hockey, will remain a staple for the foreseeable future. Some may feel that the contract is too steep for the production, but he easily would have gotten more on the open market. This is a great move for the Flames and their future.

by Les Mavus