Washington Capitals Top Goal Scorers: Nicklas Backstrom
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Coming in at number seven (tied) on our list of the best Washington Capitals goal scorers of all-time is none other than current Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom.
He’s such a good passer that it’s often hard to remember that he can be a goal scorer as well. It’s something that Caps fans can forget at times.
In 577 NHL games (all with the Capitals), Backstrom has 145 goals. That’s good for 165 adjusted goals.
"On October 5, 2007, he scored his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by fellow Swede Michael Nylander, against the Atlanta Thrashers. While Backstrom was decent early in his first season, still adjusting to the smaller ice rinks of North America, his season rapidly improved once an injury to Nylander promoted him to the first line. Playing alongside Alexander Ovechkin, Backstrom set NHL and team records while helping Ovechkin win the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. These two would soon establish themselves among the premier linemates and duos in the league, with the formidability of a top flight scorer and playmaker proving to be hard to defend against. With better talent surrounding him, Backstrom would go on to finish his rookie campaign with 69 points (14 goals, 55 assists), with three goals and 22 assists on the power play. He was named the runner-up to the Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane for the 2007–08 Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of they Year (Kane had 1,087 votes to Backstrom’s 872). The Blackhawks’ other superstar rookie, Jonathan Toews, placed third in votes with 647. However, Backstrom was named to the All-Rookie Team along with Kane and Toews. In his second NHL season, Backstrom would go on to lead both the Capitals and Swedish NHL players with 66 assists, and added 22 goals for 88 points, placing him within the top ten NHL scorers in the 2008–09 regular season. Backstrom would again prove to be a force in the playoffs, tallying 15 points in 14 games. Backstrom scored his first career playoff hat-trick, including the overtime game winner against the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a round that they lost in seven games. On May 17, 2010, Backstrom signed a ten-year, $67 million contract extension with the Capitals. On December 13, 2014, Backstrom achieved his first hat-trick in the NHL against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On March 15, 2015, Backstrom became the franchise leader in assists for the Capitals. Backstrom led the NHL with 60 assists in the 2014-15 regular season. – Wikipedia"
Next: #6: Pivonka