Nicklas Bäckström

Nicklas Bäckström (Swedish: [ˈnɪ̌kːlas ˈbɛ̂kːstrœm]; born 23 November 1987) is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Bäckström was selected fourth overall by the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL) at the 2006 NHL entry draft and played for the team from 2007 to 2023.

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, one of only 26 players to ever accomplish the feat. 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 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 March 9, 2022.

Early life

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.”