Mikael Backlund
Swedish centre and captain of the Calgary Flames.
Mikael Backlund, a Swedish professional ice hockey centre, serves as captain of the Calgary Flames in the NHL. The Flames picked him 24th overall in the first round of the 2007 draft, and he debuted in the league during the 2008–09 season.
Backlund came up through the junior ranks with VIK Västerås HK in Sweden’s J20 SuperElit and later played for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL), winning a WHL championship with them in 2009. On the international stage, he has represented Sweden multiple times, earning two silver medals at the World Junior Championship and a bronze, a silver, and a gold at the World Championship.
His junior career began with Västerås in the J20 SuperElit, where his strong two-way game earned him a spot on the senior team in HockeyAllsvenskan at age 16. In his debut on 2 November 2005, an away game against Växjö Lakers, he scored in the first period of a 4–0 win and was named his team’s player of the game. He recorded four points in 12 games that season. That same year, he dominated the 2006 TV-pucken under-17 tournament, leading in goals and points, winning MVP honors, and receiving the Sven Tumba Award as best forward.
Backlund spent two more seasons with Västerås, splitting time between the J20 and HockeyAllsvenskan. After being drafted 24th overall in 2007—scouts ranked him second among European skaters—he signed an entry-level contract with Calgary following the 2007–08 season. He impressed at rookie camp but struggled in main camp, so he started 2008–09 on loan back to Västerås. After a strong showing at the 2009 World Juniors, he returned to Calgary and made his NHL debut on 8 January 2009 in a 5–2 win over the New York Islanders. The Flames then assigned him to the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL for the rest of the season. In the 2009 WHL playoffs, he tied teammate Jamie Benn for the league lead with 13 goals in 19 games, helping Kelowna beat the Calgary Hitmen in the final for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
Backlund began 2009–10 with Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat. Called up on 26 January 2010, he scored his first NHL goal on 28 January against the Phoenix Coyotes. He split the season between the AHL and NHL, posting 32 points in 54 games in Abbotsford and 10 points in 23 games with Calgary.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1989-03-17
- Birth Place
- Västerås, Sweden
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 201
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Calgary Flames
- Ntl Team
- SWE
- Draft
- 24th overall
- Draft Year
- 2007
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Backlund began his junior hockey career with VIK Västerås HK in the J20 SuperElit, Sweden's premier junior league. His two-way play earned him a spot on Västerås' senior team in the HockeyAllsvenskan as a 16-year-old; in his debut on 2 November 2005, he scored a goal in a 4–0 win and was named player of the game. He later played for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL), winning the WHL championship in 2009. Internationally, Backlund represented Sweden at the World Junior Championship, winning silver medals in 2008 and 2009, and earned bronze, silver, and gold medals at the World Championship.
Backlund's NHL career with the Flames has been marked by steady development and recognition as a premier two-way forward. He formed the "3M Line" with Michael Frolík and Matthew Tkachuk, which became one of the most productive lines in the NHL in 2016–17. His defensive play earned him a fourth-place finish in voting for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2016–17. He signed multiple contract extensions with Calgary, including a six-year, $32.1 million deal in 2018 and a two-year extension in 2023, when he was named the 21st captain in franchise history.
Reader's Guide
Mikael Backlund's significance to the Calgary Flames lies in his longevity, leadership, and evolution into one of the NHL's top defensive forwards. Drafted in the first round in 2007, he developed through the Flames' system, spending time in the AHL with the Abbotsford Heat and in the WHL with Kelowna before establishing himself as a regular in Calgary. His career offensive highs came after the 2014–15 season, when he passed 20 goals and 40 points for the first time in 2015–16, and he continued to improve, posting 22 goals and 53 points in 2016–17. That season, his line with Frolík and Tkachuk produced 145 points, the most of any Flames line, and his defensive work was recognized with Selke Trophy votes. Backlund's leadership was formalized in 2023 when he was named captain, succeeding a line of previous captains. His international career includes multiple medals with Sweden at the World Junior and World Championship levels, underscoring his consistent two-way contributions. Despite injuries and trade rumours at various points, Backlund remained a core piece of the Flames, signing long-term contracts and serving as a stabilizing presence on and off the ice.
Did You Know?
- Backlund scored a goal in his debut for Västerås HK's senior team on 2 November 2005 at age 16.
- He won the WHL championship with the Kelowna Rockets in 2009, tying teammate Jamie Benn for the league lead with 13 playoff goals.
- Backlund scored the overtime winner in Game 3 of the 2015 second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks, giving Calgary its first win past the first round in 13 years.
- He was named the 21st captain in Calgary Flames history on 27 September 2023.
More in Calgary Flames Players 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced