Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nicklas Backstrom – #19
Position: Center
Nicklas Backstrom doesn’t get recognized for the superstar that he is nearly enough. He’s one of the best playmakers in the NHL, but seems to prefer to stay out of the spotlight. He led the league in assists last year. Many of his passes landed on Ovechkin’s stick, which is part of what makes them such incredible partners. He has tremendous vision and is something of an under-sung hero for the Capitals.
SEE ALSO: Backstrom is the Most Underrated Player in the NHL
The 27-year-old center is pretty reserved and selfless both on and off the ice. When he’s opened up, we’ve found out that he’s also a bit of a car enthusiast and takes extra precaution on his appearance. He recently became a father to a little baby girl named Haley and already has her out on the ice. He’s also jokingly referred to as “Papa” by teammates Tom Wilson and Michael Latta. Backstrom had minor orthoscopic hip surgery in the off-season and will likely miss roughly half of October. The team will surely miss him, but he looks on track to play soon enough. I can’t wait to see how he’ll play with our next player.
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