Nicklas Bäckström
Nicklas Bäckström ( born November 23, 1987 in Gävle) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League ( NHL).
- 5.1 International
Career
Nicklas Bäckström began his professional career in the Swedish Elitserien with his hometown team Brynäs IF Gavle 2004. He then played for both the professional as well as for the youth team, where he had stayed with the pros in 19 games without a point. The 2005/06 season was already running but will be much better and he was voted the best rookie of the Elitserien. The highlight came in May when he was world champion with the Swedish national team. In North America had long been aware of him. Bäckström was already performed in the talent scouts Europe ranking at number one and the Washington Capitals then chose him in the first round as the fourth player of the entire NHL Entry Draft in 2006.
Bäckström changed but not immediately to the Washington Capitals, but still played one more year in his home and was able to extend his points haul in the Elitserien.
In May 2007, the Washington Capitals announced that Bäckström had signed a three year contract. Five months later, he made his debut in the NHL. There he was able to convince in his first year and was elected with 69 points in the NHL All- Rookie Team.
In season NHL 2009/10 Bäckstrom made it for the first time to score more than 100 points.
Doping
Backstrom took part in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi as part of the Swedish national team. On February 23, 2014 it was announced that he tested positive and subsequently excluded from the final match against Canada. He is to the limits of a substance have easily exceeded that are included in a allergy agent Bäckström takes many years. In March 2014 Bäckström was awarded the silver medal but subsequently.
Others
- Nicklas Bäckström is not to be confused with Niklas Backstrom, the Finnish goalkeeper who plays for the Minnesota Wild.
- His father Anders Bäckström was selected by the New York Rangers at position 203 in the NHL Entry Draft in 1980, but never made the jump to the NHL and played his entire career for Brynäs IF in the Elitserien.
- His brother Kristoffer Bäckström has also played for Brynäs IF in the Elitserien and is currently available for IK Sätra / Oppala in the fourth Swedish League in use.
- Bäckström is the youngest Swedish professional ice hockey player who played in the World Cup and also still world champion.
- He is often compared with the young Peter Forsberg, the Bäckström has dethroned as recent Swedish national team. He says, however, that his playful model rather Henrik Zetterberg is.
- He is the fourth highest they drafted the Swede in the history of the NHL, behind Mats Sundin ( 1 total), Daniel Sedin (2nd) and Henrik Sedin ( third ), but before Peter Forsberg ( 6 ).
Awards and achievements
- 2006 Elitserien Rookie of the Year
- 2007 NHL Rookie of the Month December
- 2008 NHL Young Stars Game
- 2008 NHL All- Rookie Team
- 2009 NHL Young Stars Game ( personal rejection )
- 2009 Viking Award
Internationally
- 2005 bronze medal at the U18 World Youth Championship
- 2006 Gold medal at the World Championships
- 2014 Silver medal at the Olympic Winter Games
Career Stats
Internationally
Represented Sweden at:
- U18 World Junior Championships 2005
- U20 Junior World Cup 2006
- World Cup 2006
- U20 World Junior Championships 2007
- World Cup 2007
- World Championship 2008
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )