Nicklas Bäckström

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Position Centre
Shoots Left
Nickname(s) Pickles, Bäckis[1][2]
Height
Weight		 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
203 lb (92 kg/14 st 7 lb)
NHL Team Washington Capitals
Nationality Flag of Sweden Sweden
Born November 23, 1987 (1987-11-23) (age 20),
Gävle, Sweden
NHL Draft 4th overall, 2006
Washington Capitals
Pro career 2004 – present
This article is about the Swedish forward. For the Finnish goaltender, see Niklas Bäckström.

Lars Nicklas Bäckström (born November 23, 1987, in Gävle, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Bäckström was a top prospect in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and was selected 4th overall by the Washington Capitals. With that he became 4th-highest drafted Swede, after Mats Sundin (1st), Daniel Sedin (2nd) and Henrik Sedin (3rd).

He played his first game with the Swedish national team on April 6, 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 WC (roster spot held open for Daniel Alfredsson) and was directly appointed to the first line together with idol Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen.

On July 10, 2006 it was announced that he had turned down an offer from Washington Capitals and had decided to play in Brynäs IF for at least one more season.

On May 21, 2007 Bäckström signed a 3-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals, to begin playing during the 2007-08 NHL season.

On October 5, 2007 he scored his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by fellow Swede Michael Nylander, against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Upon his arrival to the NHL, Backstrom was solid but not spectacular as he made the transition to the smaller ice rinks of North America. However, after an injury to Nylander, Backstrom was promoted to the first line where he flourished. Playing alongside Alexander Ovechkin, Backstrom set NHL and team records while helping Ovechkin win the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.

Backstrom himself was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) along with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. The trophy will be presented on June 12, 2008 during the NHL Awards banquet.

[edit] Family

Nicklas Bäckström's father, Anders Bäckström, is a known Swedish hockey player who played his whole hockey career in Brynäs IF, totaling 10 seasons for the club. Nicklas' older brother Kristoffer is also a hockey player, but in the second tier of the Swedish league system with Hammarby IF.

[edit] Awards

  • Junior Hockey Player of the Year in 2006.
  • Elitserien Rookie of the Year in 2006.
  • Gold medal World Championship in 2006.
  • NHL Rookie of the Month in December 2007.
  • Nominated for 2007-2008 Calder Memorial Trophy

[edit] Records

  • Youngest Swedish player ever in World Championship (18 years and 6 months).[3]
  • First NHL rookie to record 4 assists in two consecutive games.[4]
  • Most assists in a season by a rookie, Washington Capitals team record (55 assists), 2007-2008 NHL season

[edit] Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Brynäs IF SEL 19 0 0 0 2 – – – – –
2005–06 Brynäs IF SEL 46 10 16 26 30 4 1 0 1 2
2006–07 Brynäs IF SEL 45 12 28 40 46 7 3 3 6 6
2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 82 14 55 69 24 7 4 2 6 2
SEL totals 110 22 44 66 78 11 4 3 7 8
NHL totals 82 14 55 69 24 7 4 2 6 2

Statistics as of April 14, 2007[5][6]

[edit] International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Gold 2006 Sweden

Played for Sweden in:

[edit] International statistics

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2006 Sweden WJC 6 4 3 7 2
2006 Sweden WChamp 4 0 0 0 0
2007 Sweden WJC 7 0 7 7 20
2007 Sweden WChamp 9 1 5 6 4
2008 Sweden WChamp 9 3 4 7 4
Junior int'l totals 13 4 10 14 22
Senior int'l totals 22 4 9 13 8

Statistics as of May 17, 2008[7]

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Pelle Johansson (2007-03-27). ”Bäckis till NHL redan till hösten” (Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  2. ^ Daniel Kristoffersson (2006-11-26). "Bäckis återkomst" (Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  3. ^ Bob McKenzie (2006). ”Top 30 Draft Prospects” (English). TSN.ca. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  4. ^ Brian Hunter (2008-01-22). ”Caps win a shootout from the start” (English). NHL.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  5. ^ Bäckström's stats, regular season 06/07 (Swedish). Hockeyligan (2007-04-14). Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
  6. ^ Bäckström's stats, playoffs 06/07 (Swedish). Hockeyligan (2007-04-14). Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
  7. ^ Nicklas Bäckström. Elite Prospects. Retrieved on January 14, 2007.

[edit] External links

Nicklas Bäckström's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database


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Washington Capitals first-round draft picks
Joly • Forsyth • R. Green • Carroll • Picard • Walter • Coulis • Gartner • Veitch • Carpenter • Stevens • Hatcher • Corriveau • Greenlaw • Savage • Kölzig • Slaney • Peake • Halverson • Gonchar • Witt • Allison • Baumgartner • Kharlamov • Church • Elomo • Volchkov • Svejkovsky • Boynton • Beech • Sutherby • Eminger • Semin • Gordon • Fehr • Ovechkin • Schultz • M. Green • Pokulok • Finley • Backstrom • Varlamov • Alzner