"Backlund's Journey" -- by George Johnson

[getbak]

Another great piece by George Johnson for the Flames official site.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...ey/c-286642406

The usually affable Jim Playfair in full vent mode is a man to be afforded a wide berth (for verification, see YouTube video of his double-stick-break, gasket-blowing tirade of March 27, 2010).

"He was this close to my face,'' Mikael Backlund is recalling, holding the palm of one hand up to touch the tip of his nose. "And he was yelling at me. I mean, yelling at me.

"I don't know how long it lasted. Felt like 10 or 15 minutes.

"'Spoiled! Never make it to the NHL!' All that. He really ripped into me.

"I was devastated."

By his own admission, Backlund was at the time a tad on the, uh, heavy side, and had been "cheating" on his weight since the season began.

He and the rest of the Abbotsford Heat had just concluded the 2009 AHL Christmas break, the then 20-year-old Swedish first round pick enjoying a visit from home, his mom Ann-Mari and older sister Malin, highlighted by a five-day holiday trek out to Whistler, B.C.

"Saying goodbye to them,'' he remembers, "was tough."

Flying to Winnipeg to face the Manitoba Moose on Dec. 27, Playfair's first order of post-holiday business was a weigh-in.

The first-year pro didn't pass muster, triggering the memorable summons into the coach's bunker.

"When I got back to the hotel, I just wanted to cry,'' admits Backlund. "But I had roommates, so it was tough. You never cry in front of roommates, right? Unwritten rule.

"At that moment, I felt like: 'I'm outta here.' That was as close as I came to leaving.

"But my family, the people I always turn to when I need help or encouragement, just told me: You're not coming home.

"I just had to get better."

[Benched]

Yes Backs you beauty!

"As a kid, says mom Ann-Mari, young Mikael was a Zorro and Teenage Mutant Ninja afficianado."

[442scotty]

Excellent article . The guys a keeper and always has been. I don't see why some people always think the flames should trade him. I hope he finishes his career with the flames say 5-7 years from now

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Excellent article . The guys a keeper and always has been. I don't see why some people always think the flames should trade him. I hope he finishes his career with the flames say 5-7 years from now

Why just 5-7 years?

We want 40! We want 40!

[CsInMyBlood]

Great article, thanks for posting it.

Leads the team in points, shuts down the top lines in the NHL. What a complete player he has turned into.

Mikael Backlund for the Selke.

[Huntingwhale]

This is an example of taking a course in Patience 101 of why you don't give up on a young player, especially a center, when they don't live up to YOUR expectations. Imagine if some on CP had their way and traded him when he wasn't panning out in his early 20s. I don't even want to think about where this team would be. And he is the perfect example of why I choose to be patient with Sam Bennett, even though he might not have yet lived up to the billing of being selected 4th overall. Time is on Bennett's side, time was on Backlund's side, and I don't think you'll find a single person in the Flames organization who said it wasn't worth the wait.

He's a great ambassador for the team and will truly never get the recognition he deserves league wide. But I'm OK with that, and I think he is too. Backlund is a beauty, is on a great contract, and wears the Flames' silk with pride. He's everything and more that I want in a Flames' player.

I love you Mikael Backlund

[Strange Brew]

What a great article. Thanks for posting. Some of my takeaways:

My opinion of Playfair just went up a notch.
Be patient with centers.
I hope Backlund stays with this team.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Backlund's come a long way. Left his Swedish team after the World Juniors mid season and bolted to the WHL. Rumours of clashes with his coach at the time. One game in Calgary in an emergency situation then off to Kelowna. Clashes with coach in AHL, called spoiled and again almost bolted. Huge expectations in Calgary started one training camp on the left side of Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla IIRC. Faltered.. often injured.. but never gave up on his game and developed all the two-way tools to not only be an effective player in that role but excel.

Been a big fan and a big believer of him over the years. Flames need to find a way to work him into our cap next summer. Hopefully a deal gets struck this off-season. Currently sits at 3.5, they'll have to find 1.5-2 extra to get him inked I think.

Hopefully Bennett can correct this disastrous season but a bridge deal to him instead of the big pay day works in favour of re-signing Backlund I suppose.

[Yrebmi]

Great article.

Jan Backlund, Mikael's dad, remembers that fish-or-cut-bait moment well.
"I told him,'' says Jan, "to stay, practice harder and show them how good you are."

Couldn't help but think of Baertchi here. Maybe he needed a nudge of character to help step up instead of stepping out.

[shermanator]

Remember when some were arguing that he'd be in the KHL? Glad he proved them wrong...

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Remember when some were arguing that he'd be in the KHL? Glad he proved them wrong...

I think that was one poster.

Although Backs probably would be a KHL Allstar had he went that route.

I think the fact that he was a first round pick from Europe at a time when the Flames had been drafting some pretty boring players caused some out of line fan expectations. He's well exceeded his draft position. Good to see him playing as well as he is.

[AC]

An ideal linemate in Frolik last year, it seemed obvious from the start.

Tkachuk however has been a perfect compliment to those 2 this year. Really surprised to start, but at this point in the season is also seems obvious.

Really hope Backs gets a long extension once he's eligible for a new contract.

[flame^thrower]

That's a great read

[FireGilbert]

Great read thanks. Also more evidence that Playfair has some serious anger issues.

[Gaudfather]

Mikael has always had good support from his Dad. On Hometown Hockey tonight he was saying his Dad still gets up at 3am or 4am in the morning to watch every single Flames game live.

[Gaskal]

I think many of us were guilty of including Backs in at least one trade proposal in the past, myself included. Good on him for proving us wrong.

[getbak]

At the 2007 Draft, the Flames made a trade with the Blues to move down from the 18th to the 24th overall pick. The Blues had originally acquired that draft pick as part of a package that Atlanta sent to St Louis in exchange for Keith Tkachuk.

Obviously, it's impossible to know what would have happened otherwise, but it's possible that Backlund wouldn't be in Calgary today to be a linemate for Matthew Tkachuk if not for a trade 10 years ago that sent Matthew's father to Atlanta for fewer than 25 games.



From the 2007 Draft Class, Backlund was drafted 24th overall, but is currently 19th overall in games played; 12th overall in goals scored; and 14th overall in points.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Good to to see Shakey land on his feet. Great wordsmith, spins a great yarn.