Nicklas Backstrom confirmed Elliotte Friedman’s report Monday that he is negotiating a contract extension with the Washington Capitals without an agent. Backstrom spoke to reporters in San Jose after Capitals practice.

“I feel like I’ve been here long enough. I’ve seen everything. I don’t think there’s anything to hide,” Backstrom said. “We’ll see what happens here going forward. I just felt like I wanted to do it myself. I have a good enough relationship with the organization where we can be honest and talk. That’s just how it is.”

Video

Nicky was a full participant in today's practice in San Jose and looks to be inching closer to the lineup with three games in the next four nights.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/gSGQjQvxyw

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 2, 2019

According to Backstrom, the forward parted ways with his former agent, Marc Levine, ahead of the 2019-20 season. Despite entering negotiations without Levine, Backstrom had high hopes to have completed talks prior to the season starting.

“To be honest with you, I would have liked it done before the season,” Backstrom said, though he did not offer any further details about which members of the Capitals organization he was negotiating his contract with. However, when Backstrom was asked about how he was faring as his own agent, he joked, “I don’t have a contract for next year, so I’m not doing that good.”

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan told reporters on November 26 that they “want him back. He’s a big part of our organization and we’re going to do whatever we can to get him back.”

Backstrom is following in captain Alex Ovechkin’s footsteps in negotiating his contract without an agent. With some experience in non-traditional representation, Ovechkin even offered to assist Backstrom with his next contract.

“He wanted to be my agent, actually,” Backstrom said. “I said no, but thanks for the help, though.”

Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong