Tag Archives: Nicklas Backstrom

A Backie Star

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We were not a very good team. That was by design. We had a poor record. We got to pick high in the draft for a few seasons. We drafted Alex Ovechkin and we drafted Nicklas Backstrom.

Nicklas is a pillar of our rebuild. He is a wonderful two way player and a great person with enormous upside and sublime skills. He plays defense well. He is all about the team. In an odd way, his single biggest issue is that he isn’t selfish enough. He has a great shot and I believe he can be a consistent 25 goal scorer.

Nicklas is a winner as well. He comes from a very strong family environment. He is very respectful of his coaches and his teammates. He is a fast learner and he is a strong and effective leader. He is durable. In fact, he has never missed a game due to injury.

He loves our community for its cosmopolitan flair. He is best friends with many of his teammates. He embraces our fans and he gets goose bumps when you are Rocking the Red.

I am very fond of Nicklas and his family. We are fortunate to have been able to draft him; help develop his skills; and to see him blossom into a star player. It will be a joy to watch him play on our team for a long, long time. This is a total feel good story.

Remarkable Start and Stats

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But it only matters if/when we win.Alex is not about personal stats. He is about helping the team win. It is why he is such a beloved teammate. He is focused on our singular goal. Personal accolades will come; stats will be generated; but wins are what are most important.

Right now I would have to believe that the Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin line may be the best line in the NHL. I think they generated 8 points against Philadelphia and would have had more if we weren’t killing off so many Philly power plays.

What should we call this line? What are your ideas?

Taken for Granted?

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Mike Green is having an amazing year, isn’t he? Despite missing 14 games, he has now scored 30 goals and has 70 points. This is bordering on a historic season as he also broke the NHL record for most goals scored in consecutive games for a defenseman. To put 30 goals in perspective for you, that is as many or more goals as scored by Sidney Crosby; Pavel Datsyuk; Jason Spezza; Henry Zetterberg; Vinnie Lecavalier; Mike Richards or Ryan Smyth.

And Nicklas Backstrom ain’t too shabby either. He is now 10th in the NHL in scoring with 82 points.

Oh yeah. Alex Ovechkin now has 54 goals scored. He leads all goal scorers by a dozen goals.

Enough about individual stats. On to the playoffs and being all about team.

We Don’t Underrate Backstrom

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We know what we have. Nicklas is a very smart and savvy player.

He is perhaps our most well-rounded player. He has super hockey sense. He lugs the puck up ice and sets us up. He plays great D; has great hands; and is selfless. He only wants the team to win. He is a great teammate and he racks up points. And he will play his best in big games. Nicklas is much stronger and tougher than people give him credit for and he will only grow and get even stronger on the puck.

He is one of our foundational players. He loves the city and he loves playing on this team. He is one to build around. I for one am very excited to have him on our team. Another very high draft pick; another brick in the wall.

Live from Toronto

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Toronto is a hockey mad city and everywhere you go, the NHL Awards Show is being promoted and Alex Ovechkin’s face is literally everywhere.

We fly in and arrived on time. It was a glorious day: sunny, crisp, zero humidity. We checked into the hotel; showered up; put on our dark suits; and hit the red carpet. The walk was a long one – perhaps 2,000 feet – with literally thousands of fans and hundreds of media reps all calling your name; looking for NHL players; and some chanting “MVP! MVP!” when they see Alex Ovechkin strolling by.

We meet Mike Babcock of the Red Wings and have a nice chat. We meet Vinnie Lecavalier who was very smart and very complimentary of our team. We see many NHL execs along the way and many hard-working reporters. There is a positive buzz about the NHL and about the Washington Capitals in the air.

We finally get to our seats. I am seated with my son and Bruce and his wife. Raul Fernandez and George McPhee are sitting with Alex. I take note that we are in rows A and B. That must be a good omen, right? :-)

The awards start out with Alex winning the Pearson Award. He is so nervous but so authentic in his speech. Way to go Alex! He hugs us and then leaves to do media. A young lady then comes and fills his seat just like the Oscar ceremony I think. :-)

The other awards fly by and then Coach of the Year goes to Bruce. Wow. We are all stunned. His wife is so gracious. Bruce is shocked - having an out of body experience – and humbled. What a great story! I should make my next movie on Bruce’s life! This award is so well-deserved!

The Rookie of the Year goes to Patrick Kane. I am disappointed. I think Nicklas Backstrom deserves the award. Nicklas is here with his mom and dad and agent. It is so great to see the friendship and bond that Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom have developed.

The MVP award goes to Alex Ovechkin. It is a clean sweep for Alex. It has been a historic year for him. Gary Bettman comes by and congratulates us on a special evening. We then all go down to the media room. I meet Martin Brodeur, Nick Lidstrom, Scotty Bowman and Gordie Howe. It is Hockey Heaven! (I am a fan too, you know!) :-)  Then on to the after party.

The party is loud and kinda boring. We mingle and schmooze with agents and league officials and then leave for dinner. We find a place showing the NBA Finals. We grab a bite to eat and we meet people who know we own the Washington Capitals. We talk hockey, watch the game and end the night at midnight. As we head back into the hotel, we run into Ron Wilson and we hang out together with Ron and George breaking the place up with stories and jokes.

It was a memorable night. I am so tired. My head hits the pillow and I am out like a light.

I am up now blogging away. I have more than 100 emails. We will leave today to head back to DC. Alex and his small entourage are flying back with us as are two NHL officials who will be carrying all of the trophies won by our franchise last night. We will arrive; go to the Caps offices; then head to the Mayor’s office; and then to our VIP party later tonight. What a whirlwind. What a fun time. Embrace it. Go Caps! Thank you.