‘There’s gonna be some changes’: Mikael Backlund talks trade rumours, Flames captaincy

NASHVILLE – Mikael Backlund, who has devoted his entire pro career to Calgary, is well aware of the trade rumours engulfing the Flames this week in Nashville, where the hockey world is gathering for the awards and the draft.

Top-four defenceman Noah Hanifin is said to prefer a trade out of town, as first reported by Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff. Same goes for top-six winger Tyler Toffoli. And the future of No. 1 centre Elias Lindholm is equally in doubt. 

All three of those core players are slated for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024. They are eligible to re-sign extensions as early as this Saturday, yet none appear jumping at the chance to do so. 

Contractually, Backlund, 34, is in the same boat. But after 908 games in the same sweater, his ties to the organization run deeper than his peers’.

Heck, the two-way centre is repping his team in Nashville because he’s up for the King Clancy Award, thanks to his generous charity efforts for his home city.

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No one associated with the Flames has confirmed the reports of a swelling exodus.

And although rookie GM Craig Conroy could simply hold pat with his valuable contract-year players, he experienced firsthand the frustration of walking trade chip Johnny Gaudreau out the door for zero return in 2022 and would be loathe for a repeat in ’24.

The idea of Conroy dealing away such rich talent is concerning, but not as worrisome as watching them leave without compensation.

“It’s hard. You know, those are great guys, first and foremost. Great people off the ice and great teammates, but also really good players,” Backlund told Sportsnet Sunday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.

“But it’s part of the business. There’s always trades that happen during the offseason and things change up — and last year was a big changeup. This year again, maybe for Calgary. So, we’ll see what happens. But, yeah, there’s gonna be some changes.”

The theory is that how Calgary’s most consistent playmaker, Lindholm, plays his hand could have a ripple effect on fellow 2024 UFAs like Backlund and Chris Tanev.

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“Uh… it’s more about, like, how I feel myself. And of course, you know, if all those guys leave and Lindy [does too], it would affect me a little bit,” Backlund said.

“But I’ve been in Calgary so long that that’s not the main focus for me. I have that connection to Calgary and the passion for Calgary, and that is more like me personally, what my thoughts are.”

Backlund holds a 10-team no-trade list, so he will have some control over his fate in 2023-24.

He finds the optimism in long-serving assistant GM Conroy earning his promotion. Ditto rookie head coach Ryan Huska, who moves up from his assistant role under the abrasive Darryl Sutter.

“I think it’s exciting times in Calgary with those guys coming in. Some fresh air,” said Backlund, who played with Conroy and was coached by Huska back in their Kelowna days. 

“So, I know both of them really well. Great people, smart hockey guys, and I think they’ll do a great job for Calgary. And I’m excited for them to get this opportunity. I’m rooting for both of them. I hope they have a lot of success over the years.”

Perhaps Backlund could help lead that success as captain?

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The Flames haven’t had one since Mark Giordano got scooped in the 2021 Seattle Kraken expansion draft.

“It would be a huge honour,” the longest-serving Flame chuckles. “But it’s something I would never ask for, or I ever expected. Like, never. I know there’s been talks that I wanted it before and stuff, but that’s not true. I never expect to be captain. 

“Over the years, I tried to develop my leadership skills and take more responsibility with guys [coming] and going within the organization, knowing I had to take on more leadership and ownership. But it’s nothing I would ever ask for. But it’ll be a huge honour to be captain for an NHL team, especially a Canadian team and a Canadian market.”

OK. But is it fair to say that the Flames would have benefitted from having a captain this past season, as a talented group slipped out of the playoff picture?

“I think so. The year before we didn’t have one either, but we were winning right off the hop. We were winning the whole year, and things went pretty smooth,” Backlund said. 

“It’s harder when you’re not winning, and you need that one guy to maybe lean on and talk to. We had guys step up and talk. But I think it did hurt us last year.”

More from Sportsnet

Erik Karlsson opens up about trade request: ‘There’s a lot of teams that want to do it’

Wiebe’s World: Trade chatter heating up in Central Division ahead of NHL Draft

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