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Flames re-sign captain Mikael Backlund to team-friendly extension
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- Flames re-sign captain Mikael Backlund to team-friendly extension
Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The post Flames re-sign captain Mikael Backlund to team-friendly extension appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The 2025-26 NHL season is less than a month away. After coming agonizingly close to making the postseason last year, the Calgary Flames are looking to right the ship starting next month.
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As the team prepares for training camp and preseason, some good news came from the team. Captain Mikael Backlund has signed a two-year contract extension with the Flames , locking the center down through the summer of 2028.
"THAT'S OUR CAP," posted the team on X, formerly Twitter. "Mikael Backlund has signed a two-year extension with an AAV of $3.25 million!"
The Flames tied the St. Louis Blues with 96 points last season, yet the Blues went to the playoffs due to a tiebreaker. For a team that is so close to a postseason trip, making sure Backlund stays put makes sense.
The 36-year-old has spent his entire career in Calgary after being selected by the team in the first round of 2007's NHL Draft. After this contract expires, it's a possibility that he will retire. Has GM Craig Conroy done enough to help Backlund and his teammates get back to the playoffs?
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Flames look to improve, reach postseason in 2025-26
Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
So far this offseason, Conroy has only brought in one new player: defenseman Joel Hanley . Trusting mostly the same squad to run it back from last season is not a bad idea. After all, the Flames missed out on the postseason because of a tiebreaker. In a solid Western Conference, who knows just how far Calgary would have made it last season?
However, the focus is now on the upcoming season. Extending Backlund, especially at just $3.25 million a season, was a smart move from Conroy and the front office. Their captain loves playing in Calgary, and the Flames certainly appreciate the loyalty.
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Conroy also inked young goaltender of the future Dustin Wolf to a big extension earlier this offseason. Most of Calgary's core is locked in for the foreseeable future. Can Backlund help lead the Flames back to the postseason in 2025-26? Either way, this looks to be a win-win extension for both parties.
