Imagine walking up the steps to the Scotiabank Saddledome, passing through the doors, and just taking a moment to soak it all in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
History seeps through those concrete walls, but with it, a sense of impermanence, knowing that in a few short months, the \u2018Dome will close its doors.<\/p>\n
Now imagine being No. 2 all-time in games played for the Calgary Flames (1,148), arriving at the arena you\u2019ve called home since being drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft 19 years ago. There’s more memories than can be counted on both hands.<\/p>\n
Flames captain Mikael Backlund admits he\u2019s starting to feel a bit nostalgic about the old barn. The centreman is second in games played for the club – and by the end of this campaign, he could be all alone atop that mountain – but as the Swedish pivot embarks on a brand-new\u00a0NHL season, he\u2019s looking at his surroundings differently, even if it hasn\u2019t quite sunk in that he\u2019ll be calling a new building home in a year\u2019s time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe character in this building is really cool and iconic,\u201d he said during a quick dressing-room chat Tuesday afternoon. \u201cYeah, I think about a bit, coming to the rink every day on the drive in, and walking in the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t think it\u2019s really hit that it’s coming to an end. I think I\u2019ll feel it more at the end of the season when it’s really close, but it’s exciting times for the city with the new arena and I think with everything around it, it’s going to be really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
But over his time in Calgary, Backlund\u2019s been part of some big moments beneath the Saddle. Debuts, farewells, overtime winners, and milestones for franchise legends Jarome Iginla, the current most games played leader for the franchise with 1,219, and Miikka Kiprusoff, just to name a handful.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy first game I got to play here after World Juniors so it was really cool,\u201d he said, reminiscing on that January night in 2009 when he touched NHL ice for the first time. \u201cBeing part of some pretty cool milestones; Jarome\u2019s 500th goal, my own 1,000th game, and Kipper’s last game at the \u2018Dome was really cool. It was really special. He had a really good game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c(Matt Stajan\u2019s) big goal in the playoffs against Vancouver, when we made the playoffs that year. That was cool. My first playoff goal to be an OT winner too, Johnny (Gaudreau) scoring before that to tie the game. Johnny\u2019s goal (against Dallas in 2022), special of course. And then the jersey retirements, Iggy and Kipper. Some really special moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moments that bring back camera-flash moments to everyone\u2019s mind, the moment they\u2019re referenced.\u00a0<\/p>\n