Flames ink 2007 first-round pick Calgary, AB (Sports Network) - Calgary Flames general manager Darryl Sutter
announced Friday the signing of the team's 2007 first-round pick, center
Mikael Backlund. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not
disclosed.
The 24th overall selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Backlund registered
three goals and four assists at last year's World Junior Championships,
helping the Swedish team earn a silver medal.
"Mikael is one of the best 18-year-old centers in the world and we are pleased
that we have been able to retain him under contra... More...
Calgary center Mikael Backlund , the top prospect in the Flames' organization, has signed a new three-year entry-level contract, according to SLAM Sports.
Our View:Backlund was the Flames 1st-round draft choice in 2007 and just recently turned 19-years of age. The new deal is said to be worth a maximum of $875,000 per season, provided he plays at the professional level in North America.
Jarome Iginla was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy awarded each year to the league MVP.
Our View:Iginla truly is an MVP both in the real world and in the fantasy game. He scored 50 goals with 15 on the power-play and nine of them going for game winners, not to mention being a +27 and producing 83 PIM. He should be a top-5 pick in drafts next year.
Calgary vetern RW Owen Nolan tried to will and work the Flames into the contention and the second round of the NHL playoffs, but his offerings fell short against a San Jose team on the prowl, taking the series-deciding Game 7 by a score of 3-5.
Our View:Nolan scored his third goal of the playoffs to break the game in favor of Calgary at 2-1 in the second period, but the team scored just one more the rest of the way and came up short.
