The captain is sticking around in Calgary.
The Calgary Flames have re-signed centre Mikael Backlund to a two-year, $6.5-million extension worth $3.25 million in average annual value, the team announced Wednesday.
Backlund, 36, has spent his entire 17-year NHL career with the Flames and was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season.
Instead, the veteran leader will continue to work with the team as it progresses through a rebuild, serving as the team’s longest-tenured active skater.
The Vasteras, Sweden, native was named the 21st captain in Flames history ahead of the 2023-24 season after serving as an alternate captain for the five prior campaigns.
Over his 1,066 career games with the Flames, Backlund has 215 goals and 348 assists. He’s one of only two players in franchise history to have suited up for more than 1,000 games, the other being Jarome Iginla.
Backlund was drafted 24th overall in the first round of the 2007 NHL Draft and made his debut with the team in the 2008-09 season.