Nick Backstrom led the Caps in scoring in the regular season and also in the playoffs. On a team with an all-time great scorer, a Vezina-winning goalie, and the unparalleled sexual charisma of assistant coach Blaine Forsythe, it’s easy to overlook number 19. But that would be a mistake.
By The Numbers
| 82 | games played |
| 18:16 | time on ice per game |
| 22 | goals |
| 64 | assists |
| 52.6 | 5-on-5 shot-attempt percentage, adjusted |
| 61.7 | 5-on-5 goal percentage, adjusted |
Visualization by HockeyViz
About this visualization: This series of charts made by Micah Blake McCurdy of hockeyviz.com shows various metrics for the player over the course of the 2016-17 season. A short description of each chart:
- Most common teammates during 5-on-5
- Ice time per game, split up by game state
- 5-on-5 adjusted shot attempts by the team (black) and opponents (red)
- 5-on-5 adjusted shooting percentage by the team (black) and opponents (red)
- Individual scoring events by the player
- 5-on-5 adjusted offensive (black) and defensive (red) zone starts
Peter’s Take
Over and over, Nicky Backstrom has demonstrated that he’s a world-class hockey player. When we look back with fondness at the offensive prowess of the 2016-17 Washington Capitals, it would behoove us to single out Backstrom as the heart of it. He led the team in scoring in both seasons: the one that matters and the one that does not. He recorded his highest 5-on-5 point rate (2.4 per 60) since the golden days of 2010 (2.9). He led the team in point shares. He’s probably the most important player on the Caps power play.
I don’t have anything critical to say about number 19 really, but I would like to voice a warning: This won’t work forever. Backstrom will be 30 next season, and his number-one linemate will be 32. They’ll likely be without the individual offense of TJ Oshie. Returns will diminish soon. Backstrom may need to increase his (already laudable) individual participation in the offense to slow that decline.
And even if he can step it up in his relatively advanced age, Backstrom will have a hard time meeting last season’s levels. During his 5-on-5 shifts, the Caps scored 61.7 percent of goals despite taking just 52.6 of the shot attempts and having 51.7 percent of the expected goals. That is a pronounced overperformance even before we note that, technically, opponents got more scoring chances than the Caps when the first line was on the ice.
So, yeah, sorry if this turned into a bummer, but I’m not sure how much longer the Caps’ first line in its current iteration will be viable during 5-on-5. Anyway, Nicky’s great.
Nicky on RMNB
- Backstrom started the season by setting up a countrymate in the first minute of the first game. They teamed up twice that night. Interesting combo.
- Pat dissected precisely what makes Backstrom so deadly on the attack.
- Another example of that deadliness: carving up the Jackets, this behind-the-back pass, and this mid-air knockdown.
- 500 apples:
- They’re not teammates anymore, but Nicky and Mike Green still hang out. Here’s them kicking it during the all-star game, probably discussing hand tattoos. Hey, why wasn’t Nick at the ASG?
- Overshadowed by Holtby’s fedora.
- Backstrom also hosted his teammates for the Superbowl, which I think is maybe when our universe started spinning off into weirdness? Nick has a roulette table in his basement, btw.
- It’s important that we remember how much Backstrom was scoring in the middle of the season. He was white hot, leading the league in the new year.
- This year, Nicklas became the first Caps player to have seven 50-assist seasons. That’s a lot.
- When Garrett Mitchell made his NHL debut, Backstrom got himself dismissed from the opening faceoff so Mitchell could take it. I love that.
- Playoff performer: at 4-on-4, with infinite patience, tying a big game, sticking in the dagger.
- Finally, here’s Backstrom scoring on Swedish heritage night.
It was appreciated.
[adinserter name=”patreon”]Your Turn
Nicky will be 30 next season. How much longer can we depend on him to be Washington’s most reliable player during 5-on-5? And will he ever be properly appreciated outside the DMV area?
Read more: Japers’ Rink, Stars and Sticks
Headline photo: Amanda Bowen
