March 17 is a lot of things to a lot of people. This year it’s a Tuesday. It’s the date that commemorates the death date of St. Patrick’ the patron saint of Ireland. But more importantly for fans of the Calgary Flames, it’s Mikael Backlund’s birthday.
He’s 31 today, and has quietly become one of the most important players in franchise history.
The Flames’ first round pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, 26th overall, Backlund has the second-most seniority of any player in the organization – Mark Giordano has two years on him, but nobody else comes close otherwise.