We’re only six games in, but an encouraging start through three games has turned sour less than two weeks later. With a third straight loss Thursday, and a frustrating one at that, it’s clear Calgary needs more from a handful of key individuals. In particular, the team’s two longest serving players are off to subpar starts by their standards. For the Flames to reach the heights they aspire to, that narrative needs to change in a hurry.
Mikael Backlund
Last we saw Backlund prior to this season, he was one of Calgary’s most consistent forwards in the summer’s Return to Play.