Nicklas Bäckström

Nicklas Bäckström (born 23 November 1987) is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre. He currently plays for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He also played parts of 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played his entire NHL career for the Washington Capitals. Outside from the NHL, Bäckström also played for Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Bäckström is a one-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Capitals in 2018. Blake is also an one-time All-Star, being named one in 2016. Internationally, Bäckström played for Sweden, winning a silver medal in 2014.

Career
Before playing in the NHL, Bäckström played parts of three seasons with the Brynäs IF of the Elitserien. He had a successful time with Brynäs. He was named the Rookie of the Year and was named the back-to-back Junior Hockey Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

He was drafted 4th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2006 NHL entry draft. On October 5, 2007, he made his NHL debut in a 3–1 win against the Atlanta Thrashers. During the game, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Michael Nylander goal. On November 8, Bäckström scored his first NHL goal against Ray Emery in a 4–1 win to the Ottawa Senators. He finished the 2009–10 season, scoring 33 goals and recording 68 assists for 101 points which was fourth in the NHL for scoring. On 17 May 2010, Bäckström signed a ten-year, $67 million contract to stay with the Capitals.

After the NHL entered into a lockout, Bäckström decided to head back to Europe and signed a contract to play for Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on 18 October 2012. He scored 10 goals and recorded 15 assists for 25 points in 19 games for Dynamo before returning the Capitals after the lockout ended. During his time with Dynamo, he played alongside his Capitals teammate Alexander Ovechkin. On 13 December 2014, Bäckström recorded his first NHL career hat-trick against Ben Bishop in a 3–1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 15 March 2015, he scored in a game against the Boston Bruins. This goal made Bäckström the Capitals all-time leader in assists. In the 2015–16 season, Bäckström was named to his first All-Star game. He helped the Capitals when they went on a run in the playoffs. They defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Tampa Bay Lightning. They went on to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights four games to one in the Final to win the first Stanley Cup in Capitals franchise history. He battled injuries to his hand during the playoffs and had to miss the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals. He returned for Game 5 but was injured and had to leave again and also missing the victory. By the end of the 2010s decade, Bäckström was the assist leader of the decade. He had recorded 512 during his decade within the league.

On 13 January 2020, Bäckström signed a five-year, $46 million contract to stay with the Capitals. On 9 March 2022, Bäckström assisted on a T. J. Oshie goal in 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The assist put Bäckström over the 1,000 point mark. On 18 June 2022, Bäckström announced that he needed hip resurfacing surgery. He played 8 games of the 2023–24 season before having to step away because of his knee not working properly.

On 28 July 2025, Bäckström decided to return to Sweden and signed a one-year contract to play for his old team Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

References

 Other websites 

Category:1987 births
Category:Living people
Category:Doping cases in sport
Category:Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics
Category:Olympic silver medalists for Sweden
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Swedish ice hockey centres
Category:Washington Capitals players