Nicklas Backstrom 2022 Report Card

Next up on our Washington Capitals player report cards is Nicklas Backstrom, who had a down season and probably the worst season of his career spending much of the season on long term injured reserve. We hardly got a chance to see Backstrom and now his future is in question as we learned he was still dealing with a hip injury.

Backstrom suited up for 47 games last season scoring a career low six goals and 25 assists for 31 points. In the playoffs, Backstrom had two goals and four assists for six points in six games.

At breakdown day we learned more about his hip injury and now he faces an offseason with a major decision to make. Does he undergo surgery, sit out the season, try to come back, or retire? It’s scary and hip injuries aren’t the same in your 30’s as they were in your 20’s.

Backstrom’s advanced stats were average at best according to Natural Stat Trick. He had a Corsi For percentage of 47.10 percent, a 45.76 percent Expected Goals For percentage, and a 47.03 percent High Danger Chances For.

Those numbers dropped in the playoffs. His Corsi For percentage was at just 39.87 percent, his Expected Goals For was at 48.33 percent and his High Danger Chances For percentage was at 57.58 percent.

Although we did not get to see Backstrom that much this past season he did have one of the best moments of the season. On March 9 against the Edmonton Oilers, Backstrom scored his 1,000th career point with an assist on a T.J. Oshie power play goal. He was the 93rd player in NHL history to hit quadruple digits in points and the 40th to do it with a single franchise.

On March 26, the Caps gave Backstrom the spotlight prior to their game against the New Jersey Devils. Backstrom was honored before the game for 1,000 career points and fans were given commemorative apples to celebrate over 700 assists for Backy.

In that game, Backstrom scored and the fans threw those apple giveaways on the ice, creating a perfect scene.

We hope Backstrom’s hip can heal in time for next season but we’ll have to wait and see. For now let’s see how Backstrom finished up.

Grade C: It’s hard to grade a player’s performance when they’ve missed much of the season but because Backstrom had a career low year, he gets a C average grade. But as the old saying goes, C’s get degrees.