Report: Mikael Backlund injured, out for remainder of World Cup

If you felt a shiver go down your spine and a disturbance in the force yesterday, it was because Calgary Flames centre Mikael Backlund got clobbered with a high hit from Finland’s Sami Lepisto during Sweden’s 2-0 victory over Finland yesterday at the World Cup of Hockey.

While Backlund finished the game, a report from our friends at the Swedish publication Expressen indicate that Backlund will be absent from today’s game against North America and will likely miss the remainder of the tournament due to a concussion.

It’s troubling news if you’re not a big fan of the tournament. It’s even more troubling news when you factor in that Backlund is easily the Flames’ best 200-foot centre (and arguably their best 200-foot player, period). He’s also had probably the worst luck a human being can have with weird injuries.

Given how crucial Backlund is to the Flames’ success and the unpredictability of injuries to (or around) the human brain, the hope likely is that everyone involved is being incredibly careful with his injury and that it doesn’t end up being anything long-term or serious. It’d be an absolute shame for Backlund to have another long-term injury.