4 Calgary Flames Searching For Form In Mile High City

Oct 26, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund (11) plays the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mikael Backlund

Player signs three-year contract extension in the summer. Player’s form dips.

This is exactly the scenario that’s been seen with Mikael Backlund. It’s quite plausible that a contract extension was serving as a large incentive to perform at his best last season.

That’s possibly a little unfair though, as Backlund hasn’t been the only player on the Calgary Flames roster that has struggled for form. It shouldn’t be ignored that he did get a knock in training camp and is potentially feeling the effects still.

Right now, his shooting game is poor, with a measly 4.3% on shooting, a single goal to his name and plus/minus of -7; he is even sub-par on face-offs right now with 45.9% on face-off wins.

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Compare this to the player he was last season and he’s definitely down statistically. Over the entire year last year (his 52 games anyhow), he had a stronger face-off winning percentage at 48.3% and although still poor number, shooting accuracy that was 5% better than at present.

Maybe it’s over critical to compare last year’s statistics with this years’ as their have obviously been some roster changes. New players can unsettle even the strongest core of players and maybe that’s what has occurred in the Calgary locker-room.

As the Calgary Flames head to Denver, Mikael Backlund is but one of many that needs to lift his game. He has his flaws and always has done, but when he is on-form he brings a steadying influence to the side.

That is much-needed right now, the ship isn’t quite sinking but it’s spring a small leak and he can certainly lift and help plug it!

Next: Players Needing Form: Sean Monahan