Since being traded to the Calgary Flames at the National Hockey League trade deadline last month, Niklas Backstrom has come to work every day with a smile on his face and prepared to perfect his craft.
Most of the time, the 38-year-old netminder is early. And usually the first player on the ice, too, chatting with Flames goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet or the two other overly punctual coaches, Martin Gelinas and Jacques Cloutier. He is usually the last one off, too.
Backstrom does all of this fully knowing he’s the third goalie in the queue, behind Joni Ortio and Jonas Hiller.