Nicklas Bäckström
Bäckström with the Washington Capitals in February 2022
Born (1987-11-23) 23 November 1987
Valbo, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Washington Capitals
Brynäs IF
Dynamo Moscow
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 4th overall, 2006
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2004–present
Website nicklasbackstrom.com

Nicklas Bäckström (Swedish: [ˈnɪ̌kːlas ˈbɛ̂kːstrœm]; born 23 November 1987) is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bäckström was selected fourth overall by the Capitals at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut the following year.

Bäckström is renowned for his elite playmaking abilities, earning him a reputation as one of the league's most skilled passers. Since 2013–14, Bäckström began a streak of six-consecutive 50-assist seasons, one of only 26 players to ever accomplish the feat.[1] He has since gone on to become Washington's all-time franchise leader in assists, and is second in all-time franchise points behind teammate Alexander Ovechkin. Bäckström won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018 over the Vegas Golden Knights. He achieved the 1000th point milestone on March 9, 2022.

Early life

Bäckström was born and raised in Valbo, Sweden. His father, Anders, was a professional ice hockey player, who won a championship with the Brynäs and retired shortly after Bäckström was born.[2] His mother was a handball player in Finland and Sweden.

According to his father, Bäckström "took over a pair of skates" from his older brother Kristoffer at the age of two.[3] By the time Bäckström was three years old, his father claimed "he could skate fully on his own."[3] The "ice barn" in Valbo where he developed his hockey skills as a young boy has been renamed to Nickback Arena.[3] As a young player, Bäckström focused on the mental part of the game. He stated that "I'm not a fast skater, but when I was younger I always wanted to be a smart player and try to read my opponent.”[2]

Playing career

Early career

After turning 15, Bäckström began his junior career in the 2002–03 season, playing for Brynäs IF of the J20 SuperElit league.[4] After playing parts of three seasons there, in the final of which he had 34 points in 29 games (17 goals and 17 assists), he was called up to play for the club's team in the Elitserien, Sweden's top professional hockey league. In part due to the increased competition brought about by the influx of NHL players into the league (as a result of the 2004–05 NHL lockout), Bäckström was unable to record a point.

In his second season, 2005–06, Bäckström's numbers greatly improved, posting 26 points (10 goals and 16 assists) in 46 games, including a goal in four playoff games. Quickly becoming a first-line centre and a top player on the team, he was named both the Elitserien Rookie of the Year as well as the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year for the first of two times (other notable players to win the latter include Peter Forsberg, Henrik Lundqvist, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Niklas Kronwall).[5]

Following his successful campaign, Bäckström was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Capitals at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, but announced on 10 July 2006, that he would wait a year before leaving Sweden to play in the NHL. His selection made him the fourth-highest drafted Swede at the time, after Mats Sundin (first), Daniel Sedin (second) and Henrik Sedin (third).

In his third and last season with Brynäs, in 2006–07, Bäckström's development had continued, and he saw improvements in points (12 goals and 28 assists) despite playing in one less game than the previous season. He also improved in post-season play, and was able to record six points (three goals three assists) in seven playoff games.

Lindsay Czarniak interviews Bäckström at the press conference announcing his signing with the Capitals in May 2007

Washington Capitals

2007–2010

On 21 May 2007, Bäckström signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals to begin playing during the 2007–08 season. His development and impressive play led some, such as HockeysFuture.com, which ranks NHL prospects, to consider him the most talented Swedish prospect in recent history. Drawing comparisons to Peter Forsberg, he was noted primarily for his vision, passing and ability to maintain possession of the puck in traffic.[6] For these reasons, he was expected to be a catalyst on the team's power play, and his defensive prowess and puck movement would make him an equally valuable asset when short-handed. On 5 October 2007, he scored his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by fellow Swede Michael Nylander, against the Atlanta Thrashers. While Bäckström was decent early in his first season, still adjusting to the smaller ice rinks of North America, his season rapidly improved once an injury to centre Michael Nylander promoted him to Washington's first line. Playing alongside Alexander Ovechkin, Bäckström set NHL and team records while helping Ovechkin win the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.

Playing on the Capitals' top line, Bäckström would finish his rookie campaign with 69 points (14 goals and 55 assists), with three goals and 22 assists on the power play. For his play, he was named runner-up to the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane for the 2007–08 Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the League's top rookie of the season (Kane had 1,087 votes to Bäckström's 872). The Blackhawks' other star rookie, Jonathan Toews, placed third in votes with 647. Despite missing out on the award, Bäckström was named to the All-Rookie Team along with Kane and Toews.[7]

Bäckström with the Capitals in January 2009, during his second season in the NHL

In his second NHL season, 2008–09, Bäckström would go on to lead both the Capitals and all Swedish NHL players with 66 assists, also adding 22 goals, for 88 total points, placing him within the top ten NHL scorers for the year. Bäckström would again prove to be a force in the Stanley Cup playoffs, tallying 15 points in 14 games as Washington eventually fell to the future Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Following the 2009 playoffs, Bäckström was awarded the Viking Award as the top Swedish-born player during the 2008–09 season. He became only the second Capital to ever win the award, following Calle Johansson, who won the award in 1991–92.

At the conclusion of the 2009–10 regular season, Bäckström finished fourth in NHL scoring with 101 points, behind Henrik Sedin (112), Sidney Crosby (109) and teammate Alexander Ovechkin (109). Bäckström scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff hat-trick, including the overtime game-winner, against the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, a series Washington ultimately lost in seven games. On 17 May, shortly after the end of the Capitals' season, Bäckström signed a ten-year, $67 million contract extension with the team.[8]

2010–2018

At the conclusion of the 2010–11 season, Bäckström scored 65 points, his lowest single-season point total in the NHL.

On 17 April 2012, Bäckström received a one-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of Boston Bruins forward Rich Peverley.[9]

Bäckström in October 2012. He played with Dynamo Moscow during the 2012–13 NHL lockout

During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Bäckström played for Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). On 18 October 2012, he signed with the Russian club, with whom his linemate Alexander Ovechkin had also signed for, for the duration of the 2012–13 lockout.[10] Originally given the jersey number 99, he requested to change to a different number out of respect to Wayne Gretzky and was given number 69 by the club.[11] Bäckström later returned to finish third in the NHL with 40 assists during the shortened 2012–13 season.

During the 2014–15 season, on 13 December 2014, Bäckström scored his first regular season NHL hat-trick in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[12] On 15 March 2015, in a game against the Boston Bruins, he became the Capitals' all-time franchise leader in assists, surpassing both Alexander Ovechkin and Michal Pivoňka after recording two in the game.[13] Bäckström finished the season leading the NHL with 60 assists, including 33 on Ovechkin's League-leading 53 goals; Bäckström also finished the year with 78 points, sixth-best in the NHL.[14] On 27 May, Bäckström had successful arthroscopic hip surgery, with Capitals management expectant of a full recovery prior to the beginning of the 2015–16 season,[15] during which he recorded 20 goals and 50 assists as the Capitals were the best team overall during the regular season, and was selected for his first All-Star Game.

Bäckström warming-up with the Capitals during the 2015–16 season.

Bäckström, third on his team with 50 assists during the 2017–18 season, was third on the team with 10 assists during the playoffs, despite playing with an injury to his hand that kept him out of the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Capitals announced before Game 4 that he would be back in the lineup for Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[16][17] He left during Game 5 and missed the Game 6 victory in Pittsburgh.[16]

2018–present

Bäckström reached and surpassed 600 assists in a 23 October 2018 game against the Vancouver Canucks, and became the 87th player in NHL history to reach this mark. A pre-game ceremony was held for Bäckström for reaching 600 career assists on 7 November 2018, before the Capitals' game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[18][19] In a 4–1 win against the New York Islanders on 26 November, Bäckström recorded three assists and moved to the second place on the Capitals' all-time points list, passing Peter Bondra.[20] In his next game, on 30 November, versus the New Jersey Devils, Bäckström scored his second career regular season hat-trick.[21] On 11 December, Bäckström had his 12th career four-assist game in a 6–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, tying him with Gilbert Perreault for eighth in NHL history.[22]

On 14 January 2020, the Capitals signed Bäckström to a five-year, $46 million contract extension.[23]

Bäckström reached 700 career assists on 5 March 2021, in a 5–1 loss to the Boston Bruins. The assist made him the third active NHL player with 700 assists, along with Joe Thornton and Sidney Crosby.[24]

Bäckström scored his 1,000th career point on 9 March 2022 on an assist to T. J. Oshie against the Edmonton Oilers, becoming only the second player in Capitals history to reach that threshold after Ovechkin.[25] On 18 June 2022, it was announced that Bäckström had undergone hip resurfacing surgery on his left hip, and was expected to be out for the start of the following season.[26] He eventually made his return on 8 January 2023 and played in 39 of the team's 40 remaining games.[27]

Prior to the 2023–24 season, Bäckström was optimistic he'd return stronger for the Capitals and said he felt 100 percent heading into the season. After eight games, he informed the team his hip was not responding properly and made a decision to step away from the game. [28]

International play


Bäckström with the Swedish men's national hockey team during the 2010 Winter Olympics
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Silver medal – second place2014 Sochi
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2006 Riga
Gold medal – first place2017 Germany/France
World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place2005 Plzeň

Bäckström played his first game with Sweden on 6 April 2006, in a game against Norway. He won the World Championship when he represented Sweden in the 2006 World Championship. As of that tournament, he is the youngest Swedish player ever in an Ice Hockey World Championship tournament. Bäckström played the last four games in the World Championship (roster spot held open for Daniel Alfredsson) and was directly appointed to the first line together with idols Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzén.

Bäckström led Sweden in the 2010 Winter Olympics with six points in four games before they were eliminated by Slovakia in the quarterfinals.[29]

In a drug test at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Bäckström's A-sample indicated doping due to an allergy medication containing pseudoephedrine.[30] He was prevented from playing in the final as a result. The B-sample, analyzed after the final, also showed values above the allowed limit.[31] The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) opposed the decision to stop Bäckström from playing in the final.[32] His silver medal was withheld until the International Olympic Committee (IOC) determined whether or not to award it to him.[33] On 14 March 2014, the IOC Disciplinary Commission decided that Bäckström would be awarded the silver medal. The Commission confirmed the provisional suspension that rendered Bäckström ineligible for the final.[34] However, in November 2014, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the IOC decision to award Bäckström his silver medal.[35] This appeal was resolved in January 2015 when Bäckström, the IOC, WADA and the IIHF agreed to a settlement in which he accepted a reprimand but was cleared of attempting to enhance his performance.[36]

Personal life

Bäckström's father Anders is a Swedish hockey player who played his career for Brynäs IF, totaling ten seasons for the club. Nicklas' mother Catrin Bäckström (born in Finland) played handball in the Swedish and Finnish Elite League in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Nicklas' older brother Kristoffer is a former professional hockey player, who played the second tier of the Swedish league system with Hammarby IF, and in a German league. Bäckström and his wife,[37] Liza Berg, have three children, two daughters and a son.[38] The family lives in Arlington, Virginia, during the season.[39] Bäckström is a keen football fan and an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C.[40]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2002–03 Brynäs IF J20 121342 20002
2003–04 Brynäs IF J20 2146104 50114
2004–05 Brynäs IF J20 2917173424 —————
2004–05 Brynäs IF SEL 190002 —————
2005–06 Brynäs IF SEL 4610162630 41012
2005–06 Brynäs IF J20 ————— 10002
2006–07 Brynäs IF SEL 4512284046 73366
2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 8214556924 74262
2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 8222668846 14312158
2009–10 Washington Capitals NHL 82336810150 75494
2010–11 Washington Capitals NHL 7718476540 90224
2011–12 Washington Capitals NHL 4214304424 1326818
2012–13 Dynamo Moscow KHL 1910152510 —————
2012–13 Washington Capitals NHL 488404820 71230
2013–14 Washington Capitals NHL 8218617954 —————
2014–15 Washington Capitals NHL 8218607840 143582
2015–16 Washington Capitals NHL 7520507036 1229118
2016–17 Washington Capitals NHL 8223638638 1367132
2017–18 Washington Capitals NHL 8121507146 20518236
2018–19 Washington Capitals NHL 8022527430 75384
2019–20 Washington Capitals NHL 6112425414 50110
2020–21 Washington Capitals NHL 5515385314 50110
2021–22 Washington Capitals NHL 476253112 62464
2022–23 Washington Capitals NHL 397142114 —————
SEL totals 11022446678 114378
NHL totals 1,0972717611,032502 139387611462

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
2005 Sweden WJC18 72354
2006 Sweden WJC 64372
2006 Sweden WC 40000
2007 Sweden WJC 707720
2007 Sweden WC 91564
2008 Sweden WC 93474
2010 Sweden OLY 41560
2012 Sweden WC 20110
2014 Sweden OLY 50440
2017 Sweden WC 53478
Junior totals 206131926
Senior totals 388233116

Awards and honors

Award Year
SHL
Rookie of the Year 2006
Junior Hockey Player of the Year 2006, 2007
NHL
NHL YoungStars Game 2008
NHL All-Rookie Team 2008
Viking Award 2009, 2015
NHL All-Star Game 2016
Stanley Cup champion 2018 [41]
  • Bäckström was given the Honorary Ambassador Award at the Swedish Embassy on 28 November 2018; award given annually to "high-profile individual who serves as a good role model for youth." Queen Silvia of Sweden was present at the "In Light of Youth" benefit dinner.[37]

Records

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nicklas Backstrom became the 26th player ever to record 6 straight 50-assist seasons. 23 of those players are in the Hall of Fame". 20 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 Khurshudyan, Isabelle (27 September 2018). "Nicklas Backstrom: "I guess you've never seen me like this before."". Washington Post. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 ""I Will Never Forget Where I Came From:" Nicklas Backstrom's Childhood Revealed on Swedish Television". Russian Machine Never Breaks. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "Nicklas Backstrom Biography" Archived 5 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Nicklas Bäckström". Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2013. “Nicklas Bäckström” Elite Prospects, Retrieved 11 May 2013
  6. ↑ "Nicklas Backstrom". Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2015. "Little Swiss butt", Retrieved 11 May 2013
  7. ↑ El-Bashir, Tariq, (12 June 2008) "A.O. Snags Hart, Pearson; Boudreau Wins Adams Archived 23 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Washington Post, 30 April 2010.
  8. ↑ "Washington Capitals' Nicklas Bäckström signs $67 million contract Archived 15 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine". Associated Press. 17 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "Official Site of the National Hockey League". Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "Nicklas Backstrom signs with Dynamo Moscow". Washington Post. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Nicklas Backstrom's New KHL Number is 69". Russian Machine Never Breaks. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  12. ↑ Prewitt, Alex (13 December 2014). "Nicklas Backstrom's hat trick leads Capitals to 4-2 win over Tampa Bay Lightning". Washington Post. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Prewitt, Alex (17 May 2015). "'Boring' Nicklas Backstrom enjoyed another under-the-radar season". Washington Post. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Traikos, Michael (30 April 2015). "Washington Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom won't be a secret weapon for long if he keeps leading his team to playoff wins". National Post. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Capitals' Backstrom has arthroscopic hip surgery". NHL. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  16. 1 2 "NHL playoffs 2018: Nicklas Backstrom returns to Capitals lineup for Game 4". Sporting News. 17 May 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  17. ↑ "Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom: From Young Guns to Stanley Cup champions". Russian Machine Never Breaks. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Khurshudyan, Isabelle (7 November 2018). "Capitals, Penguins prepare for the next chapter in their rivalry". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  19. ↑ Sorensen, Jon (7 November 2018). "Washington Capitals Honor Nicklas Backstrom's 600th Assist Milestone Before Game Against the Pittsburgh Penguins". NoVa Caps. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  20. ↑ Compton, Brian (26 November 2018). "Wilson, Capitals surge past former coach Trotz, Islanders". NHL.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018. Nicklas Backstrom had three assists and moved past Peter Bondra for second in Capitals history with 827 points
  21. ↑ "Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom: Second career hat trick". CBSSports.com. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  22. ↑ Sorensen, Jon (12 December 2018). "Capitals Thump Red Wings 6-2; Alex Ovechkin Scores Hat Trick; T.J. Oshie Scores in Return". NoVa Caps. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "Capitals Re-sign Nicklas Backstrom". Washington Capitals. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  24. ↑ Pell, Samantha (5 March 2021). "Bruins Handle Capitals in a Chippy Game that Followed a Chippy Game Two Days Earlier". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  25. ↑ Washington Capitals (9 March 2022). "Nicklas Backstrom Records 1,000th Career Point". NHL.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  26. ↑ ESPN News Service (18 June 2022). "Washington Capitals veteran center Nicklas Backstrom, 34, undergoes surgery on left hip". espn.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  27. ↑ Daily Faceoff (7 January 2023). "Capitals forwards Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson set to return from injury". dailyfaceoff.com. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  28. ↑ Tom Gulitti (1 November 2023). "Backstrom taking time away from hockey, Capitals with 'ongoing injury situation'". nhl.com. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  29. ↑ "Statistics leaderboard". NBC Sports. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  30. ↑ Williams, Ollie (23 February 2014). "Sochi 2014: Canada beat Sweden to win Olympic ice hockey gold". BBC. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  31. ↑ TT (25 February 2014). "Bäckström får vänta på domen". SVT. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  32. ↑ Ansari, Poyan (23 February 2014). "The medician defends Backstrom - He took what was allowed". SVT. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  33. ↑ "Sweden standout Nicklas Backstrom fails doping test at Sochi Games, team lashes out at IOC | Star Tribune". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  34. ↑ "IOC Decision - Swedish ice hockey player Nicklas Backstrom to receive Sochi silver medal". IOC. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  35. ↑ TSN.ca Staff (11 November 2014). "Appeal puts Backstrom's silver medal from Sochi Olympics in jeopardy, again". TSN. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  36. ↑ Prewitt, Alex (15 January 2015). "Nicklas Backstrom's Olympic doping appeal resolved with reprimand". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Nicklas Backstrom given Honorary Ambassador Award at benefit dinner with Queen of Sweden". Russian Machine Never Breaks. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  38. ↑ "Nicklas Backstrom announces birth of second child, Vince". 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  39. ↑ "Video: Caps Star Nicklas Backstrom at Home in Arlington". ARLnow.com - Arlington, Va. Local News. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  40. ↑ "Capitals get some quality time with Premier League Trophy". NHL. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  41. ↑ "The Washington Capitals, after years of frustration, win the Stanley Cup". The New York Times. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  42. ↑ Bob McKenzie (2006). "Top 30 Draft Prospects". TSN.ca. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  43. ↑ Brian Hunter (22 January 2008). "Caps win a shootout from the start". NHL.com. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
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