Shortly after finishing his exit interview, Mikael Backlund was asked if he’d consider opening talks this summer on extending his contract past next season.
The lengthy pause it produced was as telling as the answer.
“Ah, it’s kind of… we’ll see what happens,” said the Flames veteran, trying to choose his words carefully.
“I’ve been here a long time, and I love Calgary, and I love this organization.”
Here comes the ‘but.’
“But the year we had…
“I’m 34 years old.
“I want to win the Stanley Cup.
“I don’t know, this summer, what’s going to happen, or even if they offer us, or me, anything.
“I might want to see what this group can do before I make a decision.”
It says plenty about the state of the team, and the future of the organization, when the longest-tenured Flame hems and haws over a question that is far easier to answer with a white lie.
Johnny Gaudreau fibbed last year, as did Matthew Tkachuk — both saying they’d be open to extension talks.
Both were gone months later.
Give Backlund credit for being honest.
Ditto for Elias Lindholm.
“We’ll see what happens,” echoed Lindholm when asked the same question.
“I’ve got one more year, and that’s all I can say.”
Backlund and Lindholm are part of a seven-pack of core pieces who have one more year left on their deals, including Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov and Oliver Kylington.
The reality is, no one can blame Backlund and Lindholm for being primed for greener pastures.
They won’t be the only ones.
The question is, what does the organization do with them?
As soon as Tkachuk rejected extension ideas last summer, the Flames sprung into trade mode, ensuring they got maximum value for him one year ahead of his expiry date.
Does the GM, whoever that may be, cash in both chips this summer, triggering a significant rebuild/retool this organization is getting closer to entering?
Or is the plan to bring back the band for one more year before, potentially liquidating at the trade deadline if the season goes off the rails, as it did this year?
Toffoli, for one, said he spoke to Brad Treliving about an extension in Friday’s exit meeting and would be thrilled to extend his time in the city in which he just had a career year.
Why wouldn’t he? His stock has never been higher, he loves the coach, and his wife is happy in southern Alberta.
Zadorov, who had his career bolstered by Sutter’s structured system, said he’d like to be a “Flame for life.” Tanev said he was open to anything, and Hanifin gave the stock answer as outlined in the NHLPA handbook:
“It’s a great city, it’s an awesome place to play,” said Hanifin.
“I really enjoy being a part of it. Great fans, great town. So for sure, if everything ends up working out, I’d definitely be open to talking about it.”
Asked what it would take for him to want to stay, Lindholm said it wasn’t July 1 yet, and he hadn’t even thought about it.
Right.
That’s when MacKenzie Weegar jumped in and answered the question:
“A big bag of cash,” he smiled.
That’s what they gave Weegar to extend his stay.
Ditto for Jonathan Huberdeau.
Reality is, that’s the only way this organization can entice free agents to call Calgary home — overpay.
With no new arena in sight, a tough-as-nails coach in place, long winters and one of the league’s toughest travelling schedules, the Flames are a hard sell.
Even harder when you factor in all the turmoil that may cost this club its GM in the coming weeks.
It’s entirely understandable even for a guy who has spent 14 years here to seek change, especially after the season he just endured and the playoff failures that have plagued this organization.
“Ya, I mean I’ve only been to the second round here — I want to go further, and the way the year we had this year is frustrating for sure,” said Backlund, whose stock rose following his career year.
“We all had high expectations.
“My dream, like everybody else, is to win a Stanley Cup.
“The biggest dream of all would be to win here in Calgary.
“I would love to do it here.”
He clearly has doubts that can happen here, making the pause that began his answer so telling.
