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Washington Capitals Re-Sign Nicklas Backstrom To Five-Year Extension

Nicklas Backstrom

The Washington Capitals announced Tuesday morning the team had re-signed forward Nicklas Backstrom to a new five-year, $46 million contract. The contract carries a salary-cap hit of $9.2 million.

Nicklas Backstrom Re-Signs With Washington

The dynamic duo of Alex Ovechkin and Backstrom will be Capitals for life. Backstrom still had one year left on the 10-year contract he signed back in May of 2010. The current salary cap of $6.7 million did not kick in until the 2011-12 season. Backstrom took a different approach when it came to this negotiation. For the first time in his career with the Capitals, Backstrom negotiated a contract without an agent. The deal works well for both parties. The Capitals wanted term while the player wanted to get paid top dollar.

The 32-year-old, who will turn 33 later this year, has 35 points (nine goals and 26 assists) in 39 games this season with the Capitals. Originally selected fourth overall by the Capitals in 2006, Backstrom enters his 13th season in the league. In 934 career games in the NHL, Backstrom has compiled 908 points (240 goals and 668 assists). He is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and is one of two players along with Ovechkin to record more than 900 points. In 123 career playoff games, Backstrom has 106 points (36 goals and 70 assists). During the Capitals run to the Stanley Cup Championship in 2018, he had 23 points (five goals and 18 assists) in 20 games.

He has also seen success on the international stage winning a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and is a two-time gold medallist at the World Hockey Championship.

Going Forward

The Capitals have some big decisions to make going forward now that Backstrom is re-signed. Washington has two pending unrestricted free agents at the end of this season in Radko Gudas and goaltender Braden Holtby. In addition, the Capitals have three pending restricted free agents on their roster with $10.39 million in cap space this summer with 16 players under contract per CapFriendly. It will be interesting to see who the Capitals make a priority. With Ilya Samsonov playing so well, the Capitals could move on from Holtby, especially if Holtby is looking for a big number.

With Backstrom re-signed for five more years, the Capitals know that he will remain with the team until he retires. Ovechkin and Backstrom are tied together forever in Capitals franchise history.

Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images

 

 

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