Recent article in The Athletic.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...l-player-tour/
Sounds like Backlund would like to sign an extension. And Andersson getting traded is very likely.
Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund, one of the rare NHL players who says he’d only want to play in Canada, wants to finish his career as a Calgary Flame.
That means the 36-year-old center, who’s entering his 17th full season, is hoping to sign an extension as he enters the second year of a two-year deal. But he knows that likely won’t be the same for longtime teammate Rasmus Andersson.
“Yeah, he’s getting traded. It’s obvious,” Backlund said at the NHL player media tour in Europe. “But the team wants value. He wants a big contract. So he wants to play well. The team needs him to play well. So, just go out and play. I talked to him, too, and he doesn’t want to be a distraction. So it’s all good. It’s too bad it’s come to this. I don’t think that they’re close to getting an agreement or anything, but you never know. Things could change. We’ll see.”