The World Championships revealed his all-around play. Nicklas Backstrom did not post dominating stats, but he exited the tournament as a much talked-about player.
That bothered George McPhee.
“We were worried that it might expose him too much,” the Capitals general manager said.
Perhaps it did, but Backstrom, a center from Sweden, still fell to the team that claims it wanted him most: the Capitals, who selected him with the fourth overall pick in Saturday’s NHL Entry Draft.
Of their 10 draft picks, there were five centers and two goalies. The Caps had holes at both areas in their system.
“Our goaltending coach, Dave Prior, is really high on [the goalies],” McPhee said. “And he doesn’t get excited about amateur goalies very often.
“It’s comforting when it unfolds the way you had hoped. Every once in a while it all comes together. It happened two years ago with [Alex] Ovechkin, [Mike] Green and [Jeff] Schultz and it happened this year.”
Backstrom is the centerpiece. But he’s under contract with his Swedish team, so the Caps will have to persuade him to come over this season. Backstrom said it’s a possibility.
“We’ll have to see what happens,” Backstrom said. “I have my options open.”
Possible future linemate Alex Ovechkin introduced the pick Saturday. Ovechkin told McPhee that Backstrom had hit him twice during the World Championships. He called them solid hits.
McPhee said Backstrom’s talent, not his readiness, was the major factor in drafting him.
The newest Capitals
Washington was active early in Saturday’s NHL Draft with four picks in the top 35 overall. Here is a look at all of the players the Caps added, hoping to compliment star Alex Ovechkin for years to come:
First round
Nicklas Backstrom, C, Gavle, Sweden (4th overall)
Scouting report: He’s considered an instinctive playmaker, one who is close to being NHL ready. Excels at the flip pass and loves setting up teammates. Because of his size and passing skill, he could become a force on specialty units. One knock, scouts have said, is that he’s too unselfish and needs to shoot more, which Backstrom agrees with.
Semen Varlamov, G, Samara, Russia (23rd)
Scouting report: His quick glove hand is considered his strength, as is his positioning. Hockey Futures magazine says the 18-year-old has the size, raw skill and reflexes to become a top goalie. His weaknesses — maturity, mobility and stick handling — don’t concern them. The magazine projected him as a third- or fourth-round choice.
Second round
Michal Neuvirth, G, Usti Labern, Czech Republic (34th)
Scouting report: Caps GM George McPhee loves how competitive Neuvirth is and says he loves the way he plays the game. Neuvirth is quick and has drawn praise for his reflexes. He’s also considered poised, especially for an 18-year-old.
Francois Bouchard, RW, Sherbrooke, Quebec (35th)
Scouting report: McPhee calls him a “very clever player made for the new NHL.” He’s quick with terrific hands and has an offensive mindset. The brother of Minnesota Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, is considered to have second-line potential by scouts. They worried about his inconsistency as well as his work ethic and discipline problems.
» Other choices: Round 4 (97) Oskar Osala, LW, Mississauga (OHL); Round 4 (122) Luke Lynes, C-LW, Brampton (OHL); Round 5 (127) Maxime Lacroix, LW, Quebec (QMJHL); Round 6 (157) Brent Gwidt, C, Lakeland (Wis.) H.S.; Round 6 (177) Mathieu Perreault, C, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL).
— John Keim
