Nicklas Bäckström
| Nicklas Bäckström | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bäckström with the Washington Capitals in February 2022 | |||
| Born |
23 November 1987 Valbo, Sweden | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| SHL team Former teams |
Brynäs IF Washington Capitals Dynamo Moscow | ||
| National team | Sweden | ||
| NHL draft |
4th overall, 2006 Washington Capitals | ||
| Playing career | 2004–present | ||
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.