Nicklas Backstrom had an off-year in 2019-20, but we’re not worried.
By the Numbers
| 61 | games played |
| 19.0 | time on ice per game |
| 12 | goals |
| 42 | assists |
| 52.4 | 5-on-5 shot-attempt percentage, adjusted |
| 53.9 | 5-on-5 expected goal percentage, adjusted |
| 49.7 | 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 lots of information for the player over the 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
Nicklas Backstrom kicked off the annus horribilis with a huge new contract that’ll see him paid 9.2 million dollars through the next five seasons. I see that deal and Carlson’s deal as twin prologues for the real “sentimental” deal we’ll see with Alex Ovechkin later this year, a series of contracts that will change who the Caps are without changing their roster, if you know what I mean. At age 32, Backstrom is already far past his peak years, and his 2019-20 outing does not bode awesome for the future at first glance.
Here’s Backstrom’s all-situation point production over the last five seasons, with a big caveat on 19-20, of which Backstrom missed eight games before the pause cost him the last 13.
The big drop-off is in goals, but it’s lying to you. Backstrom’s individual rates during five-on-five (shots on goal, shots attempted, expected goals) stayed almost even from previous seasons; it was just his shooting percentage that dropped to six percent. He had not been below 10 percent since Oates seasons.
The same effect hit Backstrom on the power play, where he’s still the power behind the throne — he’s stronger and more important on the half wall than Carlson is on the point in my opinion — but his shooting percentage nosedived while his attempt rates actually ticked up slightly.
So Backstrom had a bad-luck season right as he signed a big new contract and while the Caps were under a lot of scrutiny. I’m not worried. As folks have said for a long time, the things that Backstrom does well also tend to age well. He doesn’t have speed, but he never really had speed to begin with. He’s still a world-class passer and playmaker, an essential part of the still-good power play (yes), and one of the strongest puck-carriers in the league. It might be time for the Caps to carry — and I hope you’re sitting down for this — a second center capable of carrying top-six minutes and taking faceoffs, but we can talk about that more on [checks calendar] Friday, September 18.
For now, tough season for Nicky. Oh well. It happens. He’ll be fine. Go next.
Nicke on RMNB
- Backstrom was injured in Game 1 of the Isles series and returned just in time for elimination. In the meantime, he rode the Game 4 rollercoaster with the rest of us.
- Backstrom and his partner Liza Berg welcomed their third child, Alizee, to the world during the lockdown. Their kids are dangerously cute, but Nicky isn’t above flashing some glove to shut them down if he has to.
- Holtby on Backstrom: “When he talks, everyone listens. He doesn’t say much all the time, I think that’s part of why it means so much when he does. When he says something, you know it’s time to listen. That’s why he’s been our backbone forever. That’s why everyone follows him.”
- Todd on Backstrom: “I think with Nicklas, I didn’t have any idea that he was this good. . . But he’s even better than I ever, ever thought. The hockey sense and the feel for the game is off the charts. His desire to continue to improve and get better, and how he trained this summer, really showed his desire to make sure our team is where it belongs and that’s playing longer into the summer than we did last year. Nick’s outstanding leader for us as well. Challenges players at the right time and is a great resource as a coach.”
- Ovechkin on Backstrom: “Sexiest guy in the f*cking league.”
- In December, Backstrom hit the 900-point mark with a four-point game.
- Aaaand he’s got a sports drink now.
- Backstrom got hurt in November, an upper-body injury that kept him out for the back half of the month.
- Absolutely terrible interview with William Nylander.
- Elf bobblehead:
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Your Turn
Are you worried about Nicky? Are you an Ovi-Kuzy or Ovi-Backy person? How will your expectations for him change as his AAV goes up?
Read more: Japers Rink
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