If the Flames have Mikael Backlund, they’ve got plenty.
That’s been the case for years, and it’s why his name still carries so much weight in Calgary as he heads into his 16th full NHL season in 2026-27. Backlund, the Flames captain, is also on track to move past Jarome Iginla and become the franchise’s all-time games-played leader sometime late in the season.
The question now is simple: can he keep delivering the same kind of two-way impact that has defined his career?
Backlund’s path to becoming that kind of player started when Calgary took him 24th overall in the 2007 NHL Draft. He came out of Vasteras, Sweden, as an offensive player, then adjusted to the smaller North American ice and developed into a quietly excellent all-around center for the Flames. After the 2012-13 lockout, he added more offense to an already dependable 200-foot game, and the version of Backlund fans know today took shape.
His reputation around the league has held strong. Since 2016-17, Backlund has picked up Selke Trophy votes from Professional Hockey Writers Association members in nine of the last 10 seasons.
The one exception was the 2020-21 Canadian Division season, when nobody outside Canadian markets saw him play. That kind of recognition says plenty about how consistently he’s been viewed as a player who can handle the best competition.
He’s also not getting any younger. Backlund turned 35 on St.
Patrick’s Day, and only 23 of the 1,038 players who appeared in the NHL in 2025-26 were older than him. Even so, he remains a vital piece of the organization.
As captain, he leads on and off the ice, serves as a model for the club’s younger players, and gives the Flames a center who can take on the hard minutes while the rookies settle in instead of being tossed straight into the fire.
There’s reason for optimism, too. The skills that have always made Backlund so effective - his instincts and hands - are the kinds of traits that tend to age better than pure speed.
But the clock still ticks, and eventually the physical side of the game usually starts to erode a little. When that happens, a player leans even more on those instincts and hands.
For now, Calgary is hoping the speed is still there enough for Backlund to keep putting those tools to work for a few more seasons as the Flames work through their rebuild.
In Other News...
Flames Fans Will Love This Brutal Take On Edmontons Blue Line
The Oilers blue line got an unexpected little taxidermy treatment on a recent podcast, where Peng zeroed in on Edmontons habit of collecting former San Jose Sharks defensemen and used it as a shorthand for his larger doubts about the roster. With Jake Walman, Ty Emberson and Shakir Mukhamadullin all now part of the conversation around the back end after the Darnell Nurse trade, the veteran hockey voice framed the group as a reason to question how sturdy the Oilers really are when the games get tight.
There is a caveat worth keeping in mind, because past Sharks struggles do not automatically tell you what Edmontons current defense will look like. Still, the reaction captures the broader skepticism hanging over the Oilers right now, and it is the kind of take Flames fans are always happy to hear when the Battle of Alberta debate turns to who actually looks built for a long playoff run. [Read more 🡒]
Former Flame Weighs In On A Debate Calgary Fans Know Too Well
The debate over whether some NHL players would rather land in a U.S. market than a Canadian one has been around for years, and it tends to flare up any time a player asks out of a team north of the border. Around the league, there have been examples of players wanting trades or steering toward American destinations, which only adds fuel to a conversation Calgary fans know well.
MacKenzie Weegar added his own perspective to that discussion, and it carried a different tone than the usual skepticism. The Canadian-born defenseman made it clear his time in Calgary and in Canada was a positive one, a reminder that the pull of Canadian hockey can still matter to players who appreciate the passion around the game. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Radio Picture Is Clearing Up But One Spot Still Looms
The Flames radio future is starting to take shape after the closure of Sportsnet 960, with QR 770 stepping in on a five-year agreement to become Calgarys new broadcast home. Derek Wills will stay on as the play-by-play voice, giving the station a familiar lead-in as it builds out its hockey coverage around the team.
Pat Steinberg and Jock Wilson are also set to host a daily Flames show, giving listeners a fresh weekday hub for team coverage and conversation. One piece still hasnt been filled in, though, and it is the one that will matter most once game night arrives: the club has not yet announced who will handle colour commentary on Flames broadcasts. [Read more 🡒]