Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund is approaching some interesting milestones

In case you haven’t read FlamesNation before, since the site launched in 2009 we’ve been using video, basic statistics, advanced statistics and interviews with folks from around the hockey world to extol the virtues of Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund. That’s not what we set out to do, necessarily, but it’s what the data has told us; he’s quite good at hockey and has been for awhile.

Backlund hit a unique milestone on Monday night against the Florida Panthers, and he’s chasing down a few exciting milestones that he could be reaching in the near future.

On Monday night, Backlund scored a shorthanded goal early in the third period to give the Flames the lead.

The shorthanded goal was Backlund’s 17th with the Flames, breaking a tie for second in franchise history with Kent Nilsson. Only Theo Fleury (28) has scored more shorties as a Flame. (The goal stood as the game-winner, serving as Backlund’s 35th game-winner, sixth all-time.)

Backlund’s next point will give him 508 all-time with the Flames. That would tie him with Mark Giordano for ninth on the Flames all-time leaderboard. If that point is a goal (at any strength), it’ll be his 192nd and put him in a three-way tie with Hakan Loob and Guy Chouinard for 11th all-time in Flames history. And if that point is an even-strength goal, it’ll give him 142 and tie him with Loob for 10th all-time.

Finally, Thursday’s game in Anaheim will be Backlund 941st game with the Flames. He’s eight games back of Giordano for second on the Flames all-time leaderboard. (Only Jarome Iginla has played more games as a Flame than Backlund or Giordano.)

Backlund’s been an effective player for the Flames for a long, long time. He’s never been a blowaway offensive player, but he’s always been reliable and consistent as a producer. And because of his productivity and longevity, he’s entering very elite company in Flames history.