Niklas Bäckström

Niklas Oskar Bäckström (; born 13 February 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played ten seasons for the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League (NHL), during which he won both the William M. Jennings Trophy and Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award. He also has won both Urpo Ylönen trophy and Jari Kurri trophy twice. Bäckström is a Swedish-speaking Finn, but also speaks Finnish.
==Playing career==
===Finland===
Bäckström won the 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a backup goaltender for the Finnish national team, along with players like Olli Jokinen, Niklas Hagman, Mika Noronen, Niko Kapanen, Toni Dahlman and Eero Somervuori. Bäckström was the third goaltender for Finland in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, but did not play any games. In the Finnish SM-liiga, he played for HIFK, SaiPa and Kärpät. Bäckström led Kärpät to two consecutive league titles in 2004 and 2005. Subsequently, Bäckström signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Wild of the NHL on 1 June 2006.
===Minnesota Wild===
At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Bäckström was the backup for the Wild's starting goaltender, Manny Fernandez. He made his NHL debut on 7 October 2006, notching his first career win in a 6–5 victory over the Nashville Predators. In his seventh career game, Bäckström continued to impress in recording his first career shutout in a 4–0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on 24 November 2006. After Fernandez suffered a knee injury mid-season, Bäckström was forced into the starter's position. He played exceptionally well over the second half of the season, finishing first in the NHL in both goals against average (GAA) and save percentage, while tying Dwayne Roloson's team record with 5 shutouts in just 36 starts.
Upon the trade of Fernandez to the Boston Bruins in 2007, Bäckström became Minnesota's starting goaltender. He recorded 33 wins in the 2007–08 season and was the starter for Minnesota's first round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, which Colorado won in six games.
Though he was due to become an unrestricted free agent on 1 July 2009, Bäckström signed a four-year, $24 million contract on 3 March 2009, to remain with the Wild.Wild Signs Goalie Backstrom ESPN, 3 March 2009 Despite Bäckström's 37 wins and strong goaltending, the Wild ultimately did not qualify for the playoffs in 2009. In that season, Bäckström finished as the runner-up for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top goaltender. In 2012, Bäckström played very well in the first half the season and the Wild had a chance to make the playoffs. However, in the second half of the season, Bäckström slumped and suffered injuries as the Wild failed to make the playoffs.
In the following seasons, Bäckström played on-and-off with the additions of goaltenders Ilya Bryzgalov, Darcy Kuemper and Devan Dubnyk to the Wild. In the 2015–16 season, he was often a healthy scratch as Kuemper dressed as Dubnyk's backup.
===Calgary Flames===
Having yet to appear in a competitive game with the Wild in the 2015–16 season, on 29 February 2016, Bäckström was traded to the Calgary Flames (along with a draft pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft) in exchange for forward David Jones. He appeared in four games for the Flames, recording two wins and two losses.
===Return to Finland===
On 10 June 2016, Bäckström effectively ended his NHL career after signing, as an impending free agent, a one-year contract with former club HIFK in Finland.
In May 2018, Bäckström signed a one-year contract with Tappara.
==Personal life==
Bäckström and his wife Heidi have two children: Benjamin and Isabella.
==Records==
===Minnesota Wild===
*Most wins: 194
*Most shutouts in a season: 8 (2008–09)
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
 	 	 		Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season		Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV% 		GP 	W 	L 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV%
1994–95 	HIFK 	FIN U18 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	HIFK 	FIN U18 		12 	— 	— 	— 	— 	700 	44 	— 	3.77 	— 		4 	— 	— 	203 	9 	— 	2.66 	—
1996–97 	HIFK 	FIN U20 		21 	— 	— 	— 	— 	1244 	57 	— 	2.75 	.914 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	HIFK 	SM-l 		2 	0 	0 	0 	— 	30 	3 	0 	6.00 	.824 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	PiTa 	FIN.2 		8 	— 	— 	— 	— 	390 	24 	— 	3.69 	.875 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	HIFK 	FIN U20 		14 	7 	7 	0 	— 	846 	42 	 	2.98 	.907 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	Hermes 	FIN.2 		9 	4 	3 	1 	— 	468 	23 	1 	2.95 	.912 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	HIFK 	FIN U20 		8 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	3.01 	.902 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	HIFK 	SM-l 		16 	9 	5 	1 	— 	923 	26 	1 	1.69 	.932 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	HIFK 	SM-l 		4 	0 	4 	0 	— 	155 	17 	0 	6.58 	.785 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	FPS 	FIN.2 		22 	13 	8 	1 	— 	1322 	50 	1 	2.27 	.928 		3 	1 	2 	178 	8 	0 	2.69 	.913
2000–01 	SaiPa 	SM-l 		49 	22 	24 	2 	— 	2826 	120 	2 	2.55 	.924 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	AIK 	SEL 		40 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2186 	111 	1 	3.05 	.897 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Kärpät 	SM-l 		36 	16 	8 	9 	— 	2136 	77 	4 	2.16 	.929 		15 	7 	8 	990 	33 	1 	2.00 	.939
2003–04 	Kärpät 	SM-l 		43 	24 	8 	8 	— 	2572 	87 	7 	2.03 	.936 		15 	9 	6 	926 	36 	1 	2.33 	.925
2004–05 	Kärpät 	SM-l 		47 	27 	10 	— 	10 	2819 	102 	7 	2.17 	.927 		12 	10 	2 	720 	15 	3 	1.25 	.950
2005–06 	Kärpät 	SM-l 		51 	32 	9 	— 	10 	3078 	86 	10 	1.68 	.940 		4 	3 	1 	195 	6 	0 	1.85 	.897
2006–07 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		41 	23 	8 	— 	6 	2227 	73 	5 	1.97 	.929 		5 	1 	4 	297 	11 	0 	2.22 	.924
2007–08 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		58 	33 	13 	— 	8 	3409 	131 	4 	2.31 	.920 		6 	2 	4 	361 	17 	0 	2.83 	.900
2008–09 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		71 	37 	24 	— 	8 	4088 	159 	8 	2.33 	.923 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2009–10 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		60 	26 	23 	— 	8 	3489 	158 	2 	2.72 	.903 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2010–11 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		51 	22 	23 	— 	5 	2978 	158 	3 	2.66 	.916 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2011–12 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		46 	19 	18 	— 	7 	2590 	105 	4 	2.43 	.919 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2012–13 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		41 	24 	15 	— 	3 	2368 	98 	2 	2.48 	.909 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2013–14 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		21 	5 	11 	— 	2 	1094 	55 	0 	3.02 	.899 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2014–15 	Minnesota Wild	NHL 		19 	5 	7 	— 	3 	1005 	51 	0 	3.04 	.887 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2015–16 	Calgary Flames	NHL 		4 	2 	2 	— 	0 	232 	13 	0 	3.35 	.881 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	HIFK 	Liiga 		17 	8 	5 	— 	4 	382 	32 	1 	1.87 	.923 		2 	1 	1 	105 	6 	0 	3.42 	.864
2017–18 	HIFK 	Liiga 		7 	2 	2 	— 	2 	314 	13 	1 	2.48 	.894 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2018–19 	Tappara 	Liiga 		15 	11 	1 	— 	2 	863 	26 	2 	1.73 	.921 		1 	0 	0 	50 	0 	0 	0.00 	1.000
Liiga totals	Liiga totals 	Liiga totals		287 	151 	76 	20 	28 	16,098 	589 	35 	2.20 	— 		49 	30 	18 	2986 	96 	5 	1.93 	—
NHL totals 	NHL totals 	NHL totals 		413 	196 	144 	— 	50 	23,481 	975 	28 	2.49 	.914 		11 	3 	8 	658 	28 	0 	2.55 	.911
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 		GP 	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA 	SV%
1998 	Finland 	WJC 		2 	1	0	1	120	5 	1 	2.50	.911
2005 	Finland 	WC 		5 	1	1	3	310	12	1 	2.32	.902
2006 	Finland 	OG 		DNP	—	—	—	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006 	Finland 	WC 		DNP	—	—	—	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008 	Finland 	WC 		8 	6	2	—	483	17	1 	2.11	.922
2010 	Finland 	OG 		2 	1	0	—	110	2 	1 	1.09	.952
2016 	Finland 	WC 		DNP	—	—	—	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals		15 	8	3	3	903	31	3 	2.06	.919
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Awards==
Award 	Year 	
SM-Liiga 	SM-Liiga 	SM-Liiga
Kanada-malja Champion 	2004, 2005 	
Runner-up 	1999, 2003 	
Bronze 	2006, 2018, 2019	
Jari Kurri trophy 	2004, 2005 	
Urpo Ylönen trophy 	2004, 2005 	
NHL 	NHL 	NHL
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award	2007 	
William M. Jennings Trophy 	2007 	
Vezina Trophy finalist 	2009 	
NHL All-Star 	2009 	
==References==
==External links==
*
Category:1978 births
Category:Ice hockey people from Helsinki
Category:AIK IF players
Category:Calgary Flames players
Category:Finnish ice hockey goaltenders
Category:HIFK (ice hockey) players
Category:Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Category:Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Category:Oulun Kärpät players
Category:Minnesota Wild players
Category:Medalists at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Category:National Hockey League All-Stars
Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Finland
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Finland
Category:Olympic medalists in ice hockey
Category:Olympic silver medalists for Finland
Category:SaiPa players
Category:Tappara players
Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players
Category:William M. Jennings Trophy winners