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Paging Matthew Stajan? Calgary’s Mikael Backlund out six weeks with broken finger

Dallas Stars v Calgary Flames

CALGARY,CANADA - FEBRUARY 16: Mikael Backlund #11 of the Calgary Flames skates against the Dallas Stars during their NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome, February 16,2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.(Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

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In a perfect world for the Calgary Flames, Jarome Iginla would play until he’s 100 years-old and not miss a beat. They’d also like to have a healthy crew of centers so that all their lines would at least have pivots they can bank on. Instead, Calgary heads into the season with Brendan Morrison hurting and now they’ve got another problem to sweat out with young center Mikael Backlund being put out of action for six weeks thanks to a broken finger.

Without Morrison and Backlund, the bulk of the offensive burden at center falls on Olli Jokinen. At least for Calgary, Jokinen found his touch again last season. As for who else they’ll look to fill things out up the middle, there’s a rather uninspiring list of candidates to choose from as Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald makes note of.

As a rookie, Backlund registered 10 goals and 25 points last season with the Flames. His absence leaves the NHL club awfully thin up the middle with Olli Jokinen, Matt Stajan and Roman Horak the only natural centres.

David Moss can move inside from the wing, if necessary. Brendan Morrison, 36, is still recovering from off-season knee surgery.


Jokinen we know about already. Horak is a youngster who made a name for himself in camp and is getting a shot to prove himself. David Moss is generally better off on the right wing than at center.That leaves Matthew Stajan as the guy needing to step up and help the team out in their time of need. Stajan is one of many Maple Leafs castoffs in Calgary and while vets like Morrison and Jokinen have reignited their games in Calgary, Stajan hasn’t exactly grabbed the opportunity by the reins.

Pressed for comment about the unachieving centreman — who had a couple of nice moments in pre-season games — Flames coach Brent Sutter offered a lukewarm appraisal.

“He’s got to continue to get better,” Sutter said of the 27-year-old who represents a $3.5 million cap bite. “He had an OK camp, OK exhibition (games). Staje has been fine.”

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“So Staje has to push to get in that mix,” said Sutter, “and that’s where it’s at. He’s had a decent camp. It hasn’t been outstanding, but he’s played OK.”


If Sutter had lightly praised Stajan any more he might’ve fallen asleep doing it. Stajan isn’t the ideal replacement when you’ve got two guys down that could/would be higher on the depth chart for center. Times are tough in the meantime though and Stajan will need to be the guy to keep the Flames from starting off poorly.

If you’re hoping for a miracle, however, don’t hold your breath. In Stajan’s 103 games as a Flame he has nine goals and 38 assists. In other words Flames fans, you’re hoping for speedy recoveries for both Morrison and Backlund.