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View Full Version : Back(lund) to the Future - Rockets Eye Swedish Star



Malc
02-06-2008, 03:00 PM
by Dana Soleski

Fans who watched Team Canada’s sterling Gold Medal victory at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championships will surely be familiar with Mikael Backlund.

Kelowna Rockets’ supporters who watched the Swedish star with particular enthusiasm are now wondering if and when Backlund might suit up for the Rockets in his apprenticeship of an NHL career.

The Rockets selected Backlund with their second first round choice in the 2007 CHL Import Draft just a week after he’d been chosen by the Calgary Flames with the 24th pick in the NHL Draft.

At the time of his selection by the Rockets, Backlund was under contract for the 2007-08 season with Vasteras IK – a second division pro team located in Backlund’s hometown. Given that NHL superstar defenseman, Nicklas Lidstrom, is a member of the Vasteras alumni, you know it’s no back woods hockey wasteland. So, chances of him coming over for this season were slim and none.

But, next year, it may be a different story.

“We knew his situation when we drafted him,” says Rockets’ President and General Manager, Bruce Hamilton. “We knew it was a risk. But, we had 2 picks in the first round and felt it was worth the gamble. We knew that if he did come over here, it probably wouldn’t be until next season.”

And, at this point in time at least, there seems a better than 50/50 chance that Backlund will suit up in Rockets’ colours next fall. As with any European NHL prospect, the drafting team has a major say in where he plays. The Flames will almost certainly try to sign Backlund and if they do, it would pave his way to North American one way or another.

“The whole plan is that the Flames will sign him and bring him to their training camp next fall,” continues Hamilton. “If that happens, he’ll likely come here for a year – unless he’s a standout at their camp and plays in the NHL.”

“I met with his agent at the Top Prospects Game in Edmonton recently and everyone’s in favour of that scenario. Of course, Darryl Sutter (Flames' GM) would have to agree. But, he knows how much our league helped in the development of guys like Oscar Moller (Chilliwack) and Alexander Edler (former Rocket now a standout with the Vancouver Canucks).”

If there’s doubt about where Backlund will play next year, there’s none about his talent level. He’s considered a potential top-6 forward at the NHL level and one of the elite 1989 born players in the world. His on-ice vision and playmaking skills highlight his tremendous offensive talents. He showed his dominance time and again at the World Juniors – particularly with his highlight reel set-up of Sweden’s game winning goal vs. Canada during the preliminary round.

“He was obviously one of the most skilled forwards at the World Juniors,” says Hamilton. “I saw him play in person at the under-18 championships last year and he was one of the best then as well.”

And what does the aforementioned Sutter have to say? Here’s what he told Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald recently:
"Very good player. Talented. Very, very, very good mind, in terms of seeing the ice and making plays. Great shot. Where we got him? Be thankful for it when you pick that low in the first round."

Hopefully, the Rockets and their fans will be truly thankful as well.