Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley feels Mikael Backlund is the team's best player right now. Backlund is on a three-game goal scoring streak. He might be great for Calgary, but beyond his recent hot streak, he's not particularly good for fantasy owners in standard leagues. He has nine goals and 19 points in 46 games this season.

Mikael Backlund scored a goal for the Flames in Monday's 2-0 win over the Hurricanes. The power play marker is just the seventh of the season for Backlund, who has experienced a difficult campaign. Rookie Sean Monahan also found the back of the net in the win for Calgary.

Mikael Backlund sniped a goal for the Flames, who fell short in their 2-1 loss to the Penguins on Saturday night. The 24-year-old former first-round pick, playing his 214th career game, has not developed into an offensive player, as this goal is just his 29th of his career. Backlund's sixth goal of the season snapped a nine-game goalless skid, and he has 17 points. T.J. Brodie and Jiri Hudler registered the assists.

Mikael Backlund returned to action on Sunday December 29.

Mikael Backlund will probably be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against Vancouver. Coach Bob Hartley said Backlund missed practice on Saturday for maintenance purposes. He has five goals and 15 points in 37 games this season and he's a marginal fantasy player at best.

Mikael Backlund is now playing between Michael Cammalleri and David Jones as a top six forward. Backlund was struggling early on this season and found that he improved his game when he stopped overthinking everything. "Pretty much right after that, it started clicking," Backlund said. Backlund has five goals and 13 points in 34 games but now has two goals in his last three games. Playing with Cammalleri will help his fantasy value in deep leagues.

Mikael Backlund scored a goal in Calgary's 3-2 overtime loss on Thursday. Backlund has two goals in his last three contests. He's somewhat hot right now, but his fantasy value is typically limited at best.

Mikael Backlund has two goals and five points in his last eight games. That's a step up for Backlund, who has 12 points in 32 contests overall in 2013-14. He doesn't have any fantasy value in standard leagues, but that might change in a couple seasons.

Mikael Backlund might find his way off of the fourth line with Sean Monahan (foot) sidelined. "I feel bad for Monny, but I'm ready to do it," Backlund said. "I'm going to do my best and see what happens." This situation is worth keeping an eye on. Backlund has two goals and seven points in 23 games this season.

Mikael Backlund bounced back nicely for the Calgary Flames Friday night. A healthy scratch last week against the Toronto Maple Leafs and a member most of the season of the Flames' fourth line, Backlund was flanked Friday by top-line players Michael Cammalleri and Jiri Hudler and made the most of his promotion, earning assists on both of Cammalleri's goals in a 4-2 loss to the Avalanche at Colorado. The Calgary Sun says Backlund looked like his old self.