Flames exit with optimism: 'I think good things are ahead of us'

For a second consecutive season, a black cloud was one of the leading storylines as the Calgary Flames digested the disappointment of a playoff miss, cleaned out their locker-stalls and split for their summer vacations. You might remember that Mikael Backlund made headlines with what he said — and, just as much, what he didn't — during his end-of-season media interview in 2023.