CALGARY — Standing patiently outside the Calgary Flames dressing room, like the thousands of kids he’s signed for over the years, Mikael Backlund waited for the inscription.
He’d purchased an autographed Lanny McDonald jersey at the Flames’ charity golf tourney, and this was his chance to have the legend personalize it.
With Sharpie in hand, McDonald disappeared into the coach’s office to pen something meaningful.
The list of autographed jerseys Backlund has collected over the course of his 15-year career can be counted on one hand, as the polite Swede has only previously dared to ask a few Flames legends.
Moments and players like these matter to Backlund, as he understands and respects the history of the franchise he’s poured his professional life into.
Now he is part of that history.
The 34-year-old Swede signed a two-year extension with the Flames Wednesday ($4.5 million AAV), and was instantly named the club’s 21st captain.
It was a moment few thought we’d see five months ago when the frustrated centre left town with a frank, honest declaration that he’d need to see what direction the organization went in before he’d even consider extending his stay.
Fast forward to a hastily called press conference Wednesday where, with his wife and two young kids in attendance, he said it wasn’t until he arrived in Calgary earlier this month that it was clear the vibe had changed.
The firing of Darryl Sutter and the hiring of Ryan Huska and Craig Conroy opened dialogue for a potential extension, with Conroy telling him all along the captaincy was his with his autograph.
Not that he ever lost his love for the city, the organization or his teammates.
He simply needed tangible proof the direction of the organization would veer from the high-tension, drama-filled environment he grew tired of last season.
It has.
Dramatically.
“I felt the new energy in the room and it was so great to be around everyone and the new coaching staff and Conroy and it felt really special and it felt like this is where we belong,” said the 14-year pro of his change of heart.
“It’s a really proud moment. It’s very special to be a captain in a Canadian city. I’m happy we’re staying.”
Backlund hadn’t even made it to the baggage carousel upon his return to town when fans approached him, telling him they hope he stays.
That meant something to Backlund, as it should.
Here, he matters.
As does the captaincy, which officially began when daughter Tillie handed him his new jersey to put on for the cameras.
He knew taking any more time to contemplate his future would have cost him the captaincy he so richly deserved.
Passing that up would be regrettable.
He is the Flames’ leader, and has been throughout camp already.
His relationship with Huska goes back to their WHL days in Kelowna, where Huska coached the Vasteras native to the Memorial Cup tourney.
He is the last active player to have played alongside Conroy, making the relationship with the GM and coach rock-solid.
His teammates have been telling him and the media he is their captain, and it even got the stamp of approval from McDonald himself.
“First of all, he plays with an edge,” said ol’ No. 9 of the two-way centreman who just posted his best statistical season to date.
“He has been here and understands after all these years what it takes, and he’s a good person.
“When you look at what he does off the ice, as well as what he does on the ice, he’s the perfect fit.”
Conroy agreed.
“When I think of what we want our players to be like, both on and off the ice, this is exactly it,” he said.
“You’re not going to find a better person or player.”
In a city that embraced him shortly after he was drafted as a shy first-rounder in 2007, Backlund responded in kind with a dedication to the local community that earned him the NHL’s coveted King Clancy Award last season as the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.
Those who were there, speak of the powerful emotion Backlund demonstrated the day he was shown a video from the charities he’s repped, thanking him.
He understands the value and power of deciding to let that relationship continue to grow.
The allure of joining Jarome Iginla as the only Flame to play his 1,000th game in red and gold (he’s 92 games away) is strong, as is the very real possibility of being named a Forever a Flame.
As the Flames look to continue trying to rebound from last season’s nightmare, an announcement like this is just another momentum builder.
Another page-turner.
It’s starting to feel like things are moving in the right direction again in Calgary, and inking Backlund to be the captain is a big part of that.
