The Calgary Flames announced on Saturday that they had come to an agreement on a new contract with center Mikael Backlund. The 26-year-old is now under contract for the next three seasons and is set to make $3.575 million per season. The deal also eats into two years of UFA status.
Backlunds deal is 3 years. #Flames
— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) June 20, 2015
Backlund AAV in Calgary is $3.575M — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 20, 2015
Drafted back in 2007 at 24th overall by the Flames, Backlund put up 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) last season in 52 games. While moving around in the line-up, Backlund is a versatile player that excels in a shut-down role on the third line, something he was dominant at being during the post-season.
The native of Sweden has played in a career total of 298 games, scoring 51 goals and adding 77 assists. Last year during the post-season, Backlund added a goal and an assist in eleven games. His only goal served as an overtime game-winner in game three of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks. In 2013-14, he set career-highs with 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points in 76 games.
With Backlund now on the books, General Manager Brad Treliving has a little over $20 million in cap space to deal with restricted free agents Josh Jooris, Drew Shore, Lance Bouma, Michael Ferland and Paul Byron. The Flames could also use a little more depth on defense and possibly a back-up goaltender, should Karri Ramo test the free agent market.
Treliving will also need to consider the fact that forwards David Jones and Jiri Hudler are UFA’s after next season, and restricted free agents Johnny Gaudreau, Joe Colborne and Markus Granlund are all in need of a contract at the end of the 2015-16 season. The biggest one may be on defense, as Mark Giordano will be unrestricted as well. So while they have quite a bit of room to maneuver, they may want to save some money and think of extending their star players and build around that.
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