In the middle of a career year, Backlund set to play 900th career game as a Flame
It's been mostly a bad year for the Flames, but it's been a pretty good one for Mikael Backlund.
The 34-year-old has been the Flames best and most consistent forward this season.
Backlund has scored 17 goals and added 32 assists for 49 points and is just four points shy of surpassing his career high for most points in a season.
He's spent his entire career with the Flames, and Saturday afternoon, will play his 900th game, when the Flames take on the San Jose Sharks.
"Yeah, it's special," Backlund said after practice Friday. "I never thought or expected I would play 900 games for one organization. I feel very privileged and it feels very special to be the third player to do that, alongside Jarome (Iginla) and Gio (Mark Giordano) makes it (feel) even more special."
To make the circle complete, Backlund's coach in 2023 is the same man who drafted him into the organization back in 2007.
"It's pretty awesome," former GM and present day head coach Darryl Sutter said. "You know what? It goes fast – like when you think about somebody like Mikael, and he's having a hell of a year – he's having his, numbers-wise, and quite honestly – performance-wise, it might be his best year."
Puck drop for the Flames and Sharks is 2 p.m. at the Saddledome.
Platform Parking on Ninth Avenue S.E. is free today for anyone going to see the Flames. The event code is 62602.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.