GRIT & GF
Mikael Backlund

Calgary Flames, Centre

Mikael Backlund

  • Net-front
  • Trigger-happy
Points, 2026–27
2
1 G, 1 A in 8 GP
Individual xG
3.3
1 goals from it
Ice time per game
17:44
24 shots on goal
xGF% at 5v5
49.8
share of chances while he's on

Mikael Backlund has 1 goal and 1 assist (2 points) in 8 games for the Calgary Flames in 2026–27, with 24 shots on goal and 17:44 of ice time a game. His Grit & GF rating for 2026–27 is 43.1 out of 100, provisional until he has 15 to 20 games.

8 games in. The methodology requires 15 to 20 games to be accurate, so this season's rating still leans on the league average for his position and will move.

GRIT & GF

43.1050100
Rated above 22% of forwards
Goals above average
+0.1
Wins
+0.02
Physicality9thGF80thIntimidation76thChemistry13thClutch22th

Where the rating comes from

Weight × score in standard deviations. They sum to −0.14, which the normal curve turns into the rating.

Your weights

Under these weights he ranks above 22.1% of 402 rated players

The default weights are our call. Set your own; they get rescaled to add up to 100%.

GF

+1.19 SD · 80th percentile · weight 38% · +0.3 goals

Goals from the hard areas: attempts from inside 20 feet, rebounds and tips, and his own expected goals, all situations.

  • Inner-slot attemptsper 60Unblocked attempts from inside 20 feet.4.2959th pct
  • Rebounds and tipsper 60Second chances and redirects: the goals you get by standing where it hurts.3.4283th pct
  • Individual expected goalsper 60The quality of his own chances, all situations.1.1690th pct

Percentiles are against 402 rated forwards in 2026-27, on 111 minutes of his 5-on-5 time. Hits, blocks and takeaways count toward the rating and are worth zero goals until a study shows otherwise. Model grit-0.5.

Embed or share this card

Free to use with a link back. The image updates as his rating does.

Mikael Backlund's Grit & GF card
Download PNG

Game notes

Written the morning after from the night's stats, for games where he did something worth a sentence.

  1. vs COL

    Thursday, October 8

    Volume

    Mikael Backlund had 11 shot attempts. Eight reached the net and one went in. He came in averaging 6.7 attempts a game. The Flames lost 7-3 to the Avalanche.

  2. at SEA

    Sunday, October 4

    Volume

    Mikael Backlund had 10 shot attempts. Five reached the net and none went in. His average this season was 5.0. The Flames fell 6-1 to the Kraken.

  3. at SEA

    Saturday, April 11

    Volume

    Mikael Backlund had 10 shot attempts. Five reached the net and none went in. His average this season was 4.2. The Flames fell 4-1 to the Kraken.

  4. at BOS

    Thursday, January 8

    Volume

    Mikael Backlund had 9 shot attempts. Five reached the net and none went in. He came in averaging 4.1 attempts a game. The Flames lost 4-1 to the Bruins.

  5. vs SEA

    Monday, January 5

    Volume

    Mikael Backlund had 7 shots on goal. His average this season was 2.3. He has 26 points in 42 games this season. The Flames fell 5-1 to the Kraken.

  6. vs NSH

    Saturday, January 3

    Streak

    Mikael Backlund has a point in 7 straight games. He has 26 points in 41 games this season. The Flames fell 4-3 to the Predators.

  7. vs PHI

    Wednesday, December 31

    Streak

    Mikael Backlund has a point in 6 straight games. That was his tenth goal of the season. He played 15:56 and had two shots on goal. The Flames beat the Flyers 5-1.

  8. vs BOS

    Monday, December 29

    Streak

    Mikael Backlund has a point in 5 straight games. He has 24 points in 39 games this season. It finished 2-1 for the Flames in overtime.

Player card

Percentile among 378 forwards with enough games this season. 50 is the median.

Scoring

  • Ice time per game17:44
    75
  • Points per 600.85
    15
  • Goals per 600.42
    29
  • Individual xG per 601.40
    89
  • Shots per 6010.2
    92

5-on-5 play

  • xG for per 60, on ice2.92
    76
  • xG against per 60, on ice2.95
    23
  • xGF%49.8%
    49

Physical

  • Hits per 603.0
    38
  • Blocks per 601.3
    21
  • Penalty minutes per 601.7
    43

Skating and shooting

NHL EDGE puck and player tracking, 2026–27. Percentiles are the league's, against all skaters.

Skating

  • Top speed21.2 mph
    28
  • Bursts over 20 mph12
    58
  • Distance skated23 mi
    73

Shooting

  • Hardest shot90.8 mph
    94
  • Shots on goal24
    92
  • Shooting %4.2%
    15

Zone time

  • Offensive zone time40.3%
    31
  • Offensive zone time, even strength42.9%
    75

Who he plays with

His most-used linemates at 5-on-5 this season, with what happened while they were out together.

LinematesGamesTOIShot attemptsxGGoalsxG share
Joel Farabee, Yegor Sharangovich640:1649–311.7–1.40–254%
Joel Farabee, Samuel Honzek316:3317–170.9–0.90–149%
Joel Farabee, Matt Coronato615:0325–200.9–1.00–046%
Joel Farabee, Matvei Gridin711:3114–170.7–0.70–252%
Matt Coronato, Aydar Suniev42:221–40.0–0.10–025%
Joel Farabee, Adam Klapka32:125–10.1–0.00–0100%

Where he shoots from

His unblocked shots this season, attacking right. 1 goals from 37 attempts.

GoalShot or miss

Last 20 games

Columns are his individual expected goals, the quality of his own chances. Dots are goals he scored.

ixGGoal
0.000.501.001.50
03-2410-18

By season

SeasonGPGAPSOGixGTOI/GPHitsBlkxGF% 5v5
2026–278112243.317:447349.8
2025–268217264318618.217:57233746.2
2024–257615173217517.018:44416150.6
2023–248215243920921.819:14704051.1

Last 20 games

DateTOIGASOGixGHitsBlkPIM
2026-10-1813:320020.17002
2026-10-1518:410010.08202
2026-10-1321:100131.09100
2026-10-1019:240010.01020
2026-10-0817:411081.01000
2026-10-0415:160050.56200
2026-10-0318:570030.08110
2026-10-0117:070010.31100
2026-04-1616:220000.00000
2026-04-1416:360120.14000
2026-04-1217:421020.43000
2026-04-1115:160050.11000
2026-04-0917:160020.13010
2026-04-0721:380010.21000
2026-04-0421:400020.02110
2026-04-0220:200100.00020
2026-03-3017:560000.22000
2026-03-2818:410100.01000
2026-03-2621:540020.27000
2026-03-2419:250030.18000