Exhale, friends, and remember how blessed we all are.
.@CortexBusiness Transaction Alert: The #Flames have signed @mbacklund11 to a six-year extension! https://t.co/9BSgZc5eX9
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) February 17, 2018
The Flames have already dealt with their #1 offseason priority and eased the trade deadline anxiety by locking down centre and FlamesNation favourite Mikael Backlund on a six-year deal, worth a total value of $32.1M.
The deal is reported to carry a $5.35M average annual value, with some caveats:
First year 2.0SB and 3.85salary for 5.85 total, second year same as first, year 3 4.35 salary, then three final years 5.35 salary. No Trade for 3 years, Modified NTC for final 3. https://t.co/htOtTBdj0J
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 17, 2018
(Decoding: SB = signing bonus, meaning Backlund’s contract will look like this on a yearly basis: $5.85M, $5.85M, $4.35M, $5.35M, $5.35M, and $5.35M)
Backlund will receive a raise of about $1.775M per year, lasting until the 2023-24 season, when he will be 35 years old. This deal pretty much makes Backlund a Flame for life.
The deal is really good value for what Backlund is and given his projected value on the open market. Should he have lasted until July 1 without a contract, it was thought that he could make anywhere around $6M on a deal of the same length. Given that comparable centre Kyle Turris signed for $6M this year, this deal is a bit of a steal.
Let’s see how his teammates are reacting:
— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) February 17, 2018
