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Washington Capitals Report Card: Nicklas Backstrom

By Benjamin Little

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 after scoring his second goal of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 after scoring his second goal of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Washington Capitals’ center, Nicklas Backstrom, proved yet again just how valuable of a player he is this season.

Washington Capitals fans know, and have known for years that Nicklas Backstrom is one of the best two-way centers in the league. It has been heard from countless players and coaches for years that Backstrom is one of the most underrated players in the league. That still may be an understatement.

Backstrom had a very strong start to the 2018-2019 campaign and was on-pace for his best season of his career. He slowed down, like most players do, and finished with a beyond respectable 74 points in 80 games. This is up from his 71 points in 81 games the previous season, and also marks his 6th-consecutive season of 70 or more points.

These 74 points include 22 goals and 52 assists, which made it Backstrom’s fourth-straight season with at least 20 goals and 50 assists. This makes him only the 35th player in NHL history to accomplish the feat, and 2nd active player to achieve it (Joe Thornton; 2002-2010).

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In addition to this, Backstrom also passed Peter Bondra‘s 824 points for 2nd-place on the Capitals’ all-time points list (trailing only Alexander Ovechkin). If those weren’t enough milestones, Backstrom also tallied his 600th-career assist, solidifying himself as an elite player but especially an elite playmaker.

If that regular season wasn’t enough, Backstrom came alive in the postseason. In his 7 games played, Backstrom had 8 points. 5 of those, uncharacteristically, were goals. Had the Caps’ postseason gone on a little (or a lot) longer, it wasn’t far-fetched to say that he would’ve been looked at very heavily for the Conn Smythe.

Much like with Ovechkin and a fine wine, age has not seemed to be a problem for Backstrom and almost seems to make him better. Although it seemed as though Evgeny Kuznetsov was set to take-over the 1C position from Backstrom, he had other ideas. These ideas included outplaying Kuznetsov, and just about every other player on the team in both ends of the ice.

Ovechkin is Washington’s (and the league’s) best goalscorer and their superstar. Backstrom is Washington’s best overall player and by far their smartest.

Backstrom plays such a unique, playmaker’s game he is unlike any assist-man in the NHL. Of course he can make smart, fast plays off-the-rush but where Backstrom really shines is when he is presented with time and space. He can slow the game down to the pace he wants it played at and toy with his opponents with his world-class patience and vision. This makes Backstrom the ultimate anchor on the power play and the secretary that keeps Ovechkin’s office in business.

Grade A: Nicklas Backstrom proved, yet again, that he is Washington’s best overall player. Had Backstrom maintained his point-production from the start of the season, he would’ve had an A++. His dip in production lowers him to an A, which is still fantastic and even more astounding when you consider he played into June last season and turned 31 this season.

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Nicklas Backstrom’s contract comes to an end after next season and if he has another season like he did this year, it’s fair to say he will earn a well-deserved raise.

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