At this year’s entry draft there were few surprises and certainly less depth and blockbuster names as previous years. Calgary for a change have slim pickings this draft year and opted to trade down the first round to acquire an extra 3rd rounder from St. Louis. That meant the Flames picked 24th in stead of 18th. When called to the podium the Flames announced the draft of standout Swedish centerman Mikael Backlund.
Two Way C Mikael Backlund from Sweden
The six-foot-four, 192-pound forward was questionable in this year’s draft because of an injured knee that happened last summer overtraining and played through the pain until December, when he had surgery. Backlund missed two months of the season, but was back playing with Vasteras in February.
He had 20 goals and 21 assists in 41 games.
Backlund was the leading scorer at the world under-18 championship in April with seven goals, including a hat trick against Canada, to help Sweden to a bronze medal.
“I’m a two-way playmaking centre who scores some goals and gets some assists,” Backlund said. “I love to do that.”
The Flames also got a seventh-round draft pick in the deal that sent defenceman Andre Zyuzin and prospect Steve Marr to the Blackhawks for Adrian Aucoin.
