It’s safe to say that the last 12 months haven’t gone the way the Calgary Flames expected or hoped, but there have been some shining lights over that period, with several players stepping up and proving just how valuable they can be to a franchise.
Tyler Toffoli, Mackenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson are a few names for Calgary, but none are more deserving of praise than veteran center Mikael Backlund, who completed his 15th season with the Flames in 2022-23, and now, he has been rewarded in a big way. At the NHL Awards, Backlund was officially honoured as the winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, given to the player that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice as well as making noteworthy contributions to the community.