Photo: Melissa Majchrzak/AP/TT
Calgary’s Swedish center and team captain Mikael Backlund passed a milestone on Thursday night.
The game against Utah away was his 1,000th in the NHL, also for the same team.
He has his roots in Västerås and was drafted to Canada and Calgary in 2007. Before the game, the 35-year-old told the ice hockey league’s website that it was a long time ago. Injury problems came into play.
– There were moments when I didn’t know if I would stay in the league. It took a long time before I managed to establish myself here says Mikael Backlund.
Hedman and Karlsson before
– And even when I did… it wasn’t until my 500th game that I started thinking: “It would have been awesome with 500 more”. It’s the first time I can remember thinking about 1,000 games, he continues.
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Backlund becomes the 19th Swede in league history to reach the milestone. Most so far came Detroit’s Nicklas Lidström up in with 1,564, in his career, with the Torontos Mats Sundin just over 200 games behind. Mikael Backlund is one of three currently active Swedes in the league who have played 1,000 games. Tampa Victor Hedman and Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson is a little ahead. How did the match go? Backlund will probably remember the night in Salt Lake City for hitting 1,000 and visiting friends, not because Calgary lost 5-1 and he was held scoreless.
Mr. 1,000 games 🔥 https://t.co/bXj2iUAwQy pic.twitter.com/nGOx7Fs9eM
— NHL (@NHL) October 31, 2024 Celebrated for the feat
The Swede is praised for his efforts in the world’s best hockey league. Despite the loss and the fact that he himself did not have his best match, he received a lot of praise after the match.
“Hats off to Mikael Backlund who reaches a big 1000-game milestone – it’s a testament to durability and skill in the NHL,” writes one person under the NHL’s official tribute photo on X (formerly Twitter).
“Congratulations on this great achievement,” commented another.
“Awesome player! Well done. May God be with you,” writes a third.
READ MORE: Mikael Backlund’s tough time after the death of his friend Johnny Gaudreau
READ MORE: Mikael Backlund is moved to tears by his daughter’s heartwarming coup – which the entire NHL is talking about: “So incredibly beautiful”
Big congratulations to Mikael Backlund who stood for an unparalleled achievement. 1,000 games in the world’s best league are obviously not many who manage.
Which NHL Swede do you think was the greatest of all time? Feel free to comment! Share and like-mark the article.
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