Kukla's Korner Hockey
Nicklas Backstrom Signs Ten Year Contract
by Paul on 05/17/10 at 11:48 AM ET
Comments (7)
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed center Nicklas Backstrom to a 10-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Backstrom, 22, recently completed his third season in the NHL, all with the Capitals, and finished fourth in the league in scoring with 101 points. A native of Gavle, Sweden, Backstrom was the only Capital to play all 82 games in 2009-10, ranked third in the NHL in assists (68) and enjoyed his first 30-goal season (33).
The Capitals now have the top-scoring teammates in the NHL this season, Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin (210 combined points), under contract for the next 10 and 11 seasons, respectively.
Word is contract averages $6.7 per year.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Nicklas+Backstrom,
Comments
He’s probably more-important to Washington’s on-ice success and future than Ovechkin even, so long as Backstrom can stay healthy.
Posted by Primis on 05/17/10 at 12:07 PM ET
I think Backstrom is without a doubt the key to the Caps and OV’s success. And you know his style of play lends better to him staying healthy longer than OV…
Posted by Greg on 05/17/10 at 12:36 PM ET
There’s not much to add. A reasonable price for a player vital to continued success in Washington.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 05/17/10 at 12:46 PM ET
Don’t forget the success Ovechkin had on a bad team before Backstrom’s rookie year. Ovechkin had already put up two 40-goal seasons, including one with 50 goals and 100 points.
I think Backstrom is a great player, and Ovechkin has obviously been better with him as a line-mate. But people really want to find any reason they can to say Ovechkin isn’t a “great” player… but the bottom line is he is. For some defensive deficiencies and all too frequent reckless physical play, he’s still an offensive talent that can produce historically relevant numbers, regardless of who he centerman is.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 05/17/10 at 01:29 PM ET
Maybe so, but I don’t think OV will be playing this way when his contract is in its last year, while I’d bet $67mill that Backstrom could be…
Posted by Greg on 05/17/10 at 05:11 PM ET
very good price for a player of his caliber. Hard to justify kovie turning down that rumored 12 year 10 million per year offer while saying he wanted to stay.
Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 05/17/10 at 10:26 PM ET
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10 years… I’m still inclined to say “good lock-up”. And even in 10 years, he could still be in his prime at only 32 years of age.
Backstrom really is one of the under-appreciated players in the league right now. He’s probably more-important to Washington’s on-ice success and future than Ovechkin even, so long as Backstrom can stay healthy.
Posted by Primis on 05/17/10 at 12:07 PM ET