On Wednesday, the Calgary Flames’ captain, Mikael Backlund will be skating in his 1,000th career game. When he and his teammates take on the St. Louis Blues, he’ll become just the 10th Swedish-born player in NHL history to reach the milestone with a single franchise.
It marks a remarkable journey as Backlund, Calgary’s first-round pick in 2007, has remained a steady presence for the Flames, logging his entire NHL career with the team.
Ironically, Backlund’s future in Calgary last season wasn’t certain. As the Flames were moving out assets during a rebuild, he was among the veterans trying to determine what to do. Should he stay or should he go? It was almost the latter. However, his loyalty ultimately kept him in the city he now calls home.
Since that time, he’s remained committed to the team and their rebuild, leading the way as captain during a time of transition.
Known for his gritty play and ability to elevate his game when it counts—especially during the Battle of Alberta—Backlund’s leadership has left a lasting impression, earning him the captaincy despite not being the team’s top scorer. His ability to ramp up production, especially against rival teams, has made him an invaluable member of the franchise.
“I think just my discipline, my stubbornness and my work ethic has brought me where I am today,” Backlund said. “And staying resilient. You know, my career has been a little rocky, up and downs, especially early on and not knowing if I was going to pan out to be an NHL player, be a regular, and then keep pushing myself to be considered a good NHLer. So I think being resilient has been a big key for me.”
As he joins Jarome Iginla as one of only two Flames players to reach this milestone, Backlund’s achievement cements his legacy in Calgary’s storied history. It’s an honor well deserved.
