There was a little bit of drama early in his career feuding with his Vasteras coach if I recall. Came over mid-season to Kelowna and even spent a game in the NHL. Wasn't sure what to make of it at the time, but he's acquitted himself quite well.
I was a huge fan of this pick. Seemed like the first in a long time where we drafted pure skill instead of intangibles, size, leadership, etc.
Backs took some time to get going and had some injuries early on but really solidified himself as a solid player for this franchise.
Huge fan. Congrats to him.
Yeah, at the time, Backlund and Brodie were clearly different from the other prospects in the system.
They were the only ones who actually had any upside.
Low key hoping he has a 60 point season in him in the next year or two and gets some nods for the Selke. He's in that time frame where a career season is still possible.
Maybe if Mangiapane evolves into that second line player and is an upgrade on Frolik there, to help them generate more consistent offense.
He doesn't get enough praise. I bet AC could put quite the highlight reel package for him for the year. He consistently makes really heady plays that often dont go noticed every game.
in the first round of the 2007 NHL entry draft the Flames took Mikael Backlund with the 24th overall pick. after some fits and starts getting going, he has settled in as a solid top 6 member of the Calgary Flames, currently 9th in franchise GP and into the top 20 in goals and points
Backlund turns 30 on Saturday
as best I can tell the following players were drafted by the Flames as teenagers, and were still consecutively with the Flames on their 30th birthday (so not counting a few older age euros )
Al MacInnis
Gary Roberts
Theo Fleury
Mike Vernon
David Moss (I am 99% sure he qualifies, and yes this is random!)
(from the 1979 Atlanta Flames draft- Tim Hunter and (sort of) Jim Peplinski)
and now Mikael Backlund
quite a feat!
(Brodie will be 29 this summer....)
I think we've been lucky to have him. a quality player and member of the community
and the day before his 35th birthday our captain scores number 200
13th player drafted by the Calgary Flames to notch that milestone
Last edited by looooob; 03-16-2024 at 08:52 PM.
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just to add in , I thought I would compare the career stat lines of Backlund, versus Joel Otto- who although were different player types were often cast in the role of 3C with the Flames (although both often played higher up the lineup than that). someone mentioned in the game thread surprising how Backlund is only now hitting 200- but again pretty similar to old 29
Otto 943 GP 195 G 313 A 508 Pts
Backs 975gp 200G 329A 529 Pts
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Reading the OP, i had to check if Johnny qualified as a Teenager Drafty who made it to 30 with the organization, and he only missed by a few months, as did Gary Suter who also left town as a 29 year old.
Funny to see him drafted in that style of jersey. The league switched to the horrendous reebok edge later that year.
__________________ MMF is the tough as nails cop that "plays by his own rules". The force keeps suspending him when he crosses the line but he keeps coming back and then cracks a big case.
-JiriHrdina
has been mentioned of course over the last few days, but noteworthy season's end for the captain passing Monahan and MacInnis and pulling even on game 82 with Lanny for t-5th on the goal scoring table for the Calgary Flames. other than pulling away from Lanny unlikely he'll crack that top 4, but his spot should be safe in the top 5 for quite a while (Coronato would be the next threat I'd reckon)
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