(Calgary) The Calgary Flames signed center Mikael Backlund to a two-year contract extension and named him 21e captain in team history.
Flames leaders announced this news during a press conference on Wednesday.
According to various media sources, the deal will bring Backlund an average annual salary of US$4.5 million.
Backlund, a 34-year-old Swede, had the best season of his career in 2022-23 with 56 points in 82 games, including 19 goals.
Backlund has played all 908 games of his NHL career in a Flames uniform, and he is the longest-serving active player on the Alberta team. He made his first official outing with the Flames on January 8, 2009.
Backlund is the first Flames player to wear the captain’s “C” since Mark Giordano, during the 2020-21 season.