Bad News: Backlund on IR! Good News: Ferland Recalled

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Calgary Flames and their center depth.

Already missing Matt Stajan and Joe Colborne due to injury, and with useful winger Mason Raymond also out of the line-up, the club announced this afternoon that pivot Mikael Backlund is week-to-week with an abdominal injury.

AHLer Michael Ferland – a winger who’s been just great at using his size thus far – has been recalled and is likely making his NHL debut tomorrow against Nashville.

Backlund’s injury woes are well-documented, as he’s yet to have a pro season where he hasn’t missed a chunk of time due to injury. Despite that, he’s one of the team’s few pure puck-possession players. He’ll be greaty missed, though (perhaps due to his abdominal injury) he hasn’t been all that great this year.

Ferland, 22, has 9 points in 9 AHL games this year with the Adirondack Flames. He missed a chunk of last season due to a knee injury, but came into camp this year leaned-down and just as strong as ever. Now he’s got more speed, and was generally quite good at camp. He was Calgary’s 5th round pick in the 2010 Draft. He wears #79.

Calgary plays Nashville tomorrow night at 7pm MT at the ‘Dome. Stajan, Raymond and Backlund are all on the IR now, with Colborne day-to-day (and still on the active roster).