Nicklas Backstrom

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

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, a feat accomplished by many players in NHL history. 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 and close friend Alexander Ovechkin. Bäckström won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018 over the Vegas Golden Knights. He achieved the 1,000th point milestone on 9 March 2022.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Bäckström's career is defined by his immediate impact upon arriving in Washington. After signing a three-year entry-level contract on May 21, 2007, he scored his first NHL point—a helper on Michael Nylander's goal—on October 5, 2007. Once promoted to the first line due to an injury to Nylander, Bäckström flourished alongside Alexander Ovechkin, finishing his rookie campaign with 69 points (14 goals and 55 assists). He was named runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy behind Patrick Kane. Over the following years, he achieved historic milestones: on March 15, 2015, he became the Capitals' all-time franchise leader in assists; on March 9, 2022, he recorded his 1,000th career point. The crowning moment arrived in 2018 when he helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, playing through a hand injury that forced him out of the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Reader's Guide

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. 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. By the time Bäckström was three years old, his father claimed 'he could skate fully on his own.' The 'ice barn' in Valbo where he developed his hockey skills as a young boy has been renamed to Nickback Arena. 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.' After turning 15, Bäckström began his junior career in the 2002–03 season, playing for Brynäs IF of the J20 SuperElit league. 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. 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. 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. 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. On 21 May 2007, Bäckström signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals to begin playing during the 2007–08 season. On 5 October 2007, he scored his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by

Did You Know?

• Bäckström began a streak of six-consecutive 50-assist seasons from 2013–14, a feat accomplished by many players in NHL history.
• He is Washington's all-time franchise leader in assists and second in all-time franchise points behind Alexander Ovechkin.
• Bäckström won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.
• He was drafted fourth overall in the 2006 NHL entry draft, the fourth-highest drafted Swede at the time after Mats Sundin, Daniel Sedin, and Henrik Sedin.
• During the 2012–13 lockout, he requested to change from jersey number 99 out of respect for Wayne Gretzky and was given number 69.