The youngest whiz kid, and the latest hope for the Capitals, stood in front of the assembled media in a crowded locker room, looking younger than his 19 years. Even in the all-black suit with black tie. And when he held up his jersey, showing the number 19, the cameras recorded the moment.
It’s quite an entrance into the NHL for Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals hope his entrance is equally splashy come October.
Backstrom, Washington’s first-round pick in 2006 and the fourth overall, signed a three-year entry-level contract Monday. He spent the past year playing in his native Sweden. He’s the latest youngster they hope will form the core of the franchise for many years, along with Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin, among others.
He’ll likely be a second-line center and it’s uncertain who they’ll pair him with.
“He’s very smart, very poised,” Caps general manager George McPhee said. “He’s very patient; he distributes it well. He makes the right play and is poised enough to wait for the right play to materialize.”
And McPhee likes that Backstrom seemed to play better in the bigger tournaments. In the World Championship tournament in Moscow earlier this spring, he finished with six points in nine games.
“He doesn’t wilt under pressure,” McPhee said. “He has that intangible that Ovechkin has or all the good ones have, they like to be out there when the game is on the line. He’ll make us better.”
His coach for Team Sweden, ex-Capital Bengt Gustafsson, told Washingtoncapitals.com that, “he has to get a little more intense and be a little more explosive. He has all the [tools] but sometimes he just keeps going at the same speed. He has to be able to change his speed a little more. … I know he can do it. That’s what the biggest difference for him is going to be.”
This past season, Backstrom led Brynas of the Swedish Elite League with 40 points in 45 games on 12 goals and 28 assists.
“I’m a better player,” said the 6-foot, 183-pound Backstrom. “I think I grew as a person, too. It helped me much to stay in Sweden.”
Capitals coach Glenn Hanlon hasn’t seen him play much, but has listened with great interest tohis scouts and media outlets who rave about him, some comparing him to fellow Swede Peter Forsberg.
“Success seems to follow him around,” Hanlon said. “You hear these things and you get fairly excited.”
Center of attention
» The Capitals will remain in the market for a front-line center, according to owner Ted Leonsis. “We need to add skill and size and a first-line center is a position everyone is looking for,” he said.
» Leonsis also said he would welcome back center Dainius Zubrus, who was traded to Buffalo mid-season. That is, if the front office wants him back. “If they want to do it, that’s fine with me.”
» Backstrom has played for Sweden in two World Championships as well as two World Junior Championships. He was the rookie of the year and an all-star in the Swedish Elite League in 2005-06. The left-handed Backstrom is considered a top playmaker.
