And it was no different for Mikael Backlund, who was struggling mightily at the beginning of the season. Struggling to put up points. Struggling on the fourth line. Struggling, for one brief game in the press box versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, to stay in the lineup. Struggling with confidence.
So, smartly, he sought out some help.
“I talked to my coach at home, my personal trainer. He was here visiting me for a week,†Backlund said. “So, he was giving me a few tips, mentally and after the games, too. Another coach I work with, Darryl Belfry, a skills coach and playmaking coach. He works with Patrick Kane and a bunch of guys. Every couple weeks, I’ll get a video where he’ll tell me what I’ve done right.â€
After being jumped over by rookie Sean Monahan and Joe Colborne on Calgary’s depth chart at centre at one point during the road bump, he also consulted the team psychologist. Worked harder in the gym. Worked harder on the ice. Worked with Flames conditioning coach Domenic Pittis. Visiting with his dad, who was in town from Sweden for the Flames fathers’ trip, helped.
And Backlund’s self analysis? Simple — too much thinking.
“Pretty much right after that, it started clicking,†said the six-foot, 198-pound pivot who was Calgary’s first-round pick from the 2007 draft. “I obviously had meetings with the coaches here but it’s nice to have guys outside (of the team) that only focus on myself and look, personally, what I can get better at … it’s been paying off lately.â€
. . .
He brushed off the idea that his progress had coincided with the fact he was subject of trade speculation after TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Nov. 22 via Twitter that four of five teams have “kicked tires†on Backlund and the Flames were “willing to move him.â€
At that point, he had only two goals and five assists in 22 games for the Flames.
Since that date, Backlund has scored points in six of 12 games, including three goals and three assists.
“I don’t know, I don’t know if it was a coincidence with (the trade rumours),†Backlund said. “Like I said, I had some good meetings around that time … my dad came in and he is a positive influence and I had really good talks with people that were close to me.