Slick Nick's Historic Helping Hands
by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
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Lost in the (wholly justifable) hype over the season that Mike Green has put together and the ridiculously exclusive company in which Alex Ovechkin finds himself so early in his career is the historic greatness of Nicklas Backstrom's first two NHL campaigns.
Consider that only eight players in NHL history have amassed more assists in their first two seasons in the League than the Caps' super soph. Four of those players (Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Peter Stastny and Denis Savard) are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, with two more (Sidney Crosby and Peter Forsberg) perhaps on their way. The last two (and Gretzky, for that matter) had at least a couple of pre-merger WHA seasons under their respective belts immediately preceding their first two NHL seasons, so their inclusion on this list is somewhat dubious.
Further, only eight players in NHL history have assisted at a higher per-game rate than Nick through the season in which they were 21-years-old (on February 1) - six Hall of Famers (Gretzky, Lemieux, Savard, Dale Hawerchuk, Bryan Trottier and Ron Francis), Sid and Eric Lindros.
We've used this space in the past to discuss Backstrom's remarkable consistency and his poise, but those traits almost detract from the playmaker's raw talent and skill - Nicklas Backstrom is, at 21-years-old, on a trajectory towards greatness.
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Faux(es) already said 19 was good. Isn’t that enough? You gotta come and make it all clear and statistical-like? Geez.
(The numbers and names here are jaw-dropping.)
Terrific post. Perhaps GMGM’s best pick. Here’s hoping the playoffs give Backis opportunities to receive the national recognition he deserves.
Is it just me, or do you think it takes centres longer to earn deserved recognition than other players? 19 is a good example: Know-nothing analysts tend to say: He plays with great, scoring forwards, etc.
Definitely. I’m still waiting for Sidney Crosby to get some positive press. :)
Seriously, though, I tend to agree (though I’d say “playmakers” rather than “centers”) for exactly the reason you lay out – it’s easy to credit someone else for their successes, especially when that someone else is such a prolific goal scorer. Similarly, it takes longer for defensive defensemen to earn recognition. Simply put, it takes a while for most people’s brains to wrap around something deeper than goals scored or goals allowed.
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[aaaaand…cut] : )
says here we should probably rethink who has been the MVP from start to finish this year. Green has had a great year and 8 is 8, but 19—by design?—has been the glue for all of it.
from the house that Red Jesus built
Find wood. Knock on it. Repeat.
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He’s no doubt a great player but I can’t say hes GMGM’s best pick. He was a known stud in that draft year and Johnson, Staal, and Toews were already off the board. That left Kessel and Baxter. For a team in desperate need of a top center for AO I think it was a no-brainer. Mike Green gets my vote for “best GMGM pick.”
The only thing wrong with Backstrom right now is that he is one of the top 25 players in the league on a team where there are two players ahead of him on that list, including one who is always in front of a camera somewhere. That will change, I suspect as time passes. Nick will get endorsement deals, etc. and his command of English is actually better than Ovie’s… I don’t think the Thrashers will be making a mockery of any ads he does….
Let's go Caps!
Pretty sure you can put Forsberg in the Hall as of now.
Re. Backstrom, the numbers speak for themselves. And if you watch a complete game as an informed fan, his play is extraordinary, particularly given his age. The lack of recognition, I think, comes from the fact that he’s sneaky-good; he’s not blazing fast, he’s not overly large or strong…nothing about his physical presence makes you blink and look twice, in other words.
He’s just a wizard with the puck on his stick, and he must be real nimble and agile, because he’s always finding himself space.
When watching the game last night, I found myself thinking that if I had never seen the Caps play before, I would have thought Backstrom was their superstar player. And this is on a line with Flash and Kozlov. He is just so calm and efficient with the puck and makes everyone around him better. He is also pretty defensively responsible and it’s common to see him below the faceoff circles in his own zone.
It’s too easy even as a Caps fan to overlook how special he is – I was surprised by some of the numbers and the company he’s keeping in this post. Great stuff.
Efficient is the word, I think. I can think of only one other player in the league as efficient as Backstrom, and that would be Pavel Datsyuk (though I’m open to suggestions).
But he definitely needs to do some squats over the summer so that he can catch streaking players right in front of him :-) (a la Game 79).
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 8, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
He is also pretty defensively responsible and it’s common to see him below the faceoff circles in his own zone.
Exactly. I love watching him swoop down into the corner to gather a loose puck while our D are floundering trying to make a play. He just exudes calm and once he grabs that puck you just know the break out is going to work out. He’s also amazingly good at winning puck battles along the boards despite his size disadvantage.
Here’s a stat I could’ve thrown into the post -
There are only two players in the entire NHL with more points and takeaways (admittedly more, though, when adjusted) than Nick – Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk (and Malkin’s giveaway-to-takeaway ratio isn’t as good as Nick’s).
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By the time Nick is done, he’ll be the measuring stick for every Swedish player entering the league. 30+ goals, 100+ points seasons will become routine for him. Five years from now, the three teams that passed him are going to look back and say “What were we thinking”. That is if they’re not doing it already.
One of the great definitely-will-be historic photos ever snapped is the one where Ovie is shaking Nicky’s hand and giving him his Caps’ jersey at the draft that year. This partnership is the foundation for everything. It will take both of them.
( JP → Wed morn challenge→ find me that pic. )
Btw, dude in the middle could have 60 points if he played on a line with those two for a full season.
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I accept your challenge and have found it!
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assists aren’t such a bad thing after all! i feel like a dirty penguins fan.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 8, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
i feel like a dirty penguins fan
That’s both redundant and repetitive, no?
(Btw, see what I did there?)
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That’s both redundant and repetitive, no?
Ahhh, yes.
PS — I like the Hershey Hub on the left. Very convenient! Merci beaucoup, JP.
Always trying to make it a more user-friendly experience…
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You know what’s funny about that photo? Alex looks have changed 180 degrees. He went from looking like a kid to a man. Nik stlll looks like a baby.
He does. the only one who looks more like a kid than Nicky is Neuvirth (who looks like he’s about twelve).
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Bjork (as has been noted before).
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Someone recently posted this in a Fanshot I think, but I’ll post the link again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkGMUnyEi9E
Behind-the-scenes with McPhee during the ’06 draft. Makes McPhee look like a pretty smart guy who knew he had the steal of the top 5 (if you can call a top 5 pick a steal).
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on Apr 8, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Man, that was great.
“5 and 37 for your pick”
“Wha…who do you want?”
“We want the Swede.”
“Lemme go talk to these guys.”
“They want the Swede. Whaddaya wanna do?”
“[inaudible]”
“I know, but I gotta make it look like we’re doin’ something over here.”
And my personal favorite: “We think he’s better than Staal.”
Although Kessel isn’t too shabby, I have to admit.
Did we trade for the 4th pick? I thought it was ours from the get-go.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 8, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I could watch that video every day for the rest of my life and not grow tired of it.
"I know, but I gotta make it look like we’re doin’ something over here."
Epic.
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I just watched all 4 parts, really fantastic stuff despite the hum. Thanks for digging that one up breed16. No real busts in there but I think Staal goes #5 if they re-drafted. Hard to say who would go #1, but Nicky’s in the mix.
Interesting to think about. I agree with you that Staal goes #5.
It sounded like McPhee wanted Backstrom, period. I.e., would have taken him #1 if he could’ve?
Of the other two guys, I don’t know much about Johnson. But I’d rather have Backstrom than Toews.
Re-watched it cuz it was so much fun.
Noticed that at hte tail end of 4/4, Comcast shows the list of players drafted – they list one “Semen” Varlamov.
Oooof.
Just another day as one of the most promising, highly skilled, historic? teams in the NHL.
Yawn….
OK, what?
This is the Washington Capitals we’re talking about?
Someone pinch me.
seconded. i can’t get enough of this team. and ovechkin’s row on the Japers’ Rink salary commitments spreadsheet caused me to shed a tear.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 8, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of Historic...
Not to thread jack Nicky’s moment, but Kremlin points out that Ovi joined some elite company (again) last night.
It’s not a threadjack if you’re linking to the second link in the post, is it? ;)
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LOL
Damn. Caught read-handed not clicking through the links!
by Scott in Shaw on Apr 8, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Once Baks learns how to win draws consistently he’s going to be downright scary. I think people sometimes forgot how young he is and how quickly he has adapted to the NHL.
I agree with the earlier comment that this might be GMGM best draft pick given the other choices that were out there. It wasn’t a slam dump in most people’s minds at the time.
Whoa. You mean every pick we ever made shouldn’t have beeen spent on someone else? Someone tell the Caps message boards.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Mike Green was a decent pick. Alex Semin, too.
But I do agree that Nick was by no means a no-brainer, and given tantalizing alternatives and the potential for failure (i.e. you take Nick and he stinks while Kessel goes to the HoF, it’s legacy, whereas everyone passed on Green, just about, so no one’s really going to be blamed for doing so), it was just a phenomenal pick.
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Yeah, I think Mike Green has to rank higher on that list of great picks, although you might have to chalk that one up to luck. After all, McPhee himself drafted Schultz higher. Definitely a great pick, and a tip of the hat is due to the scouts over in Sweden.
Also, now seems like a good time to mention again (since it just occurred to me) how neither Backstrom nor Green were all-stars this year.
That was an incredible insult from the league. I like how Backstrom passed on going to the young stars game.
Look at it this way – how much egg does the league wear on their face if a guy who was snubbed for the All-Star Game takes the Norris?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
IIRC there were 5 studs in that draft and 3 were off the board when we picked. That meant GMGM’s choice was essentially Baxter, Kessel, or go off the board. Why on earth would you have taken Kessel over Baxter? His draft stock had been consistently falling for almost 2 years (not his fault that he was so hyped so early), he was also a scorer that was probably going to play wing and not center, and the glaring weakness on the team was a player to get the puck to AO. When you have the top European prospect on the board and the guy is known to be a great playmaker it seems to be more like a no-brainer to me. Later picks are more crap shoots so to find a guy like Green late in the first (or SDR in the 7) is a tougher call than finding Baxter at the 4 slot.
In the video McPhee is pestering the GMs ahead of him to figure out whether they’re interested in Backstrom. He at one point says “we think he’s better than Staal.” Sounded to me like he was their guy no matter what. I think he might have even traded up to get him. We had a TON of picks that year.
The keyboard is mightier.
That could be possible but we don’t know. All I am saying is that when the Caps did pick Backstrom over Kessel was an easy choice.
Maybe, but at the time, Eric Duhatschek wrote this:
The fact that the Washington Capitals bypassed Phil Kessel to select Swedish prospect Nicklas Backstrom counted as the first mild surprise of the draft. General manager George McPhee handled it pretty well — he introduced Alexander Ovechkin, the Calder Trophy winner — and let Ovechkin make the call on Backstrom, who played in the Swedish Elitserien for Brynas and helped a team that’s almost always on the cusp on being demoted from the first division stay up this season.
Backstrom had a little Peter Forsberg and a little Joe Sakic in him — he isn’t big or exceptionally fast, but he competes hard and possesses unbelievable hockey sense. Presumably, the Capitals figured that Backstrom would be a better fit with Ovechkin than Kessel would.
“Mild surprise” is something. :)
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Related – 2004 gets all the credit, but 2006 was a huge draft for GMGM, too.
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I actually was thinking that too. It’s too soon to tell but 2004 v. 2006 has “take your pick” written all over it. Come to think of it, 2008 has a good amount of promise to it, too. GMGM is killing the even year drafts.
Trade all of this summer’s picks, stat!!!!
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GMGM is killing the even year drafts.
To be fair, the ’07 draft class includes Alzner, Godfrey and Taylor, while the ’05 draft brought….er….
"Thank God there is a sport for middle-sized white boys.."
I suppose we’ll see how Finley does in Hershey!
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 8, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I personally think Duhatschek is an idiot so I don’t care if he was mildly surprised. You may as well quote Bruce Garrioch to me. Pretty much everyone in the hockey world knew AO needed a playmaker to play with so it should have been clear that GMGM was going to pick whoever was available of Toews, Staal, Baxter (assuming he didn’t trade up to get Baxter).
Agreed.
I tried.
It was an obvious pick.
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Further to my own point…
In an OFB interview with McPhee this past June, he says:
If you’re picking in the top four or five, you better get the right guy — you can’t miss [on] them.
I don’t think he was messing around that year. If he thought Backstrom was his guy, I doubt he would have settled for anything less.
The keyboard is mightier.
“Slam dump” has got to be the funniest typo I’ve read today. It conjured horrible images of toilet misfortunes – hilarious misfortunes.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 8, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Backstrom is just a testament to how well the team has been built. They had a scoring winger, so what did they do, found a play making center. It’s a no brainer, but believe it or not some teams struggle to manage building in that fashion.
Take Pittsburgh for example, they drafted two great play making centers, but only had enough scoring wingers to support one of them. Crosby has preformed exceptionally well for someone who hasn’t had wingers cemented to his line at all times until the recent deadline acquisitions.
My only question is how great will Semin be when he gets a Backstrom of his own?
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Take Pittsburgh for example, they drafted two great play making centers, but only had enough scoring wingers to supportonenone of them.
Who would these mysterious scoring wingers be? Ryan Malone?
now now, I’m sure they have them…somewhere.
but seriously, I mean look at the two major deadline acquisitions of last year the Pens and Caps. Pens got Marian Hossa, Caps got Fedorov. You know what happened and I think it speaks volumes about both teams.
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
speaking of course about finding talent that complements the team and being able to keep them around.
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Right. I know what you meant. Now look at a) which of those players is still with their team, and b) what the teams had to give up for that player. The Caps got a veteran guy who they were able to resign without giving up the future. The Pens gave up 2 first round picks (essentially, Angelo Esposito was their last 1st at the time) and two roster players. If PIT had taken Kessel over Staal (or even Toews who I think is better suited to play W than Staal is) then they wouldn’t have had to make such a ridiculous deal to get a W for the playoff run.
I hope that Anton will be Semin’s go-to center, but that’s a few years off. But how cute would that be, each Russian has his very own Swede. Kozlov and Nylander, Ovie and Backis, Semin and Baby Gus
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’d be great, but honestly, I don’t get the feeling that Anton is going to be that good. Comparing him to Backstrom (both 1st round choices, after all), Anton wasn’t/still isn’t even playing in the Elitserien. Backstrom had already been Rookie of the Year when he was picked.
But I haven’t seen Anton play, either. Anyone else here have a developed opinion of Anton?
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 8, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
And Anton wasn’t putting up the kind of numbers in Juniors that Backstrom was putting up in the Elitserien. I dunno what to think about him.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 8, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
here's the thing about Semin
i don’t think he wants to be the sniper…he prefers to be the play maker. he wants to be his own Backstrom.
i think it comes from his insane hockey sense and creativity. simply shooting the puck is not amusing or challenging for him. he wants to make complex and unique plays.
IMO, Semin is Head Care Bear.
by ns on Apr 8, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
My quick first read of that was “Head Case Bear.” Heh.
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by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well, that’s an interesting thought: he needs Ovie to complement his style of play more than he needs Backstrom.
Actually, i think I disagree with that. I don’t think it’s that he wants to be the playmaker, it’s that he wants to be the perfectionist. He shoots an awful lot for someone who wants to be a playmaker, IMO. Also, the fact that Fedorov was, last season, at least, the perfect complement to him makes me think he doesn’t want to playmake.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 8, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
He does seem like his object is to make the beautiful play, and in fact, hasn’t he said that that’s his preferred style in previous interviews? That he’s looking for the pretty play? When he pulls it off, it’s beautiful indeed – and when it fails, he gives the puck away, and it’s absolutely maddening.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Defined roles do not suit Sasha. He doesn’t want to set-up or be set-up – he wants to do his own thing. Everyone else must adapt to what he’s feeling at the moment.
When he’s at his best, he’s easy to play with. When he’s freelancing, less so.
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I think you’re right to say he’s a nomadic player in the sense that can effect any line he’s one, but I also think that if the Caps could contain him to a single set of line mates that complement him just like they did with Ovie, then the sky’s the limit in terms of points for Semin.
Call me crazy, but Semin’s success will be just as important and Ovie’s when it comes to winning We’ve seen him carry the team before (October), and if he can replicate that while Ovie is on fire, good god.
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
No question. I’m just saying he’s harder to categorize than “sniper” or “playmaker,” so it’s harder to find linemates that fit with what he does, which leads to an interesting thought experiment – who (take your pick from the entire NHL, money is no object, etc.) would be ideal linemates for Semin? What type of players best compliment his gifts?
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This may sound stupid, but here we go.
The best player that can complement Semin is the player who can think one step ahead of Semin. Semin’s got great stick handling, great skating and speed, but the problem is when he’s not on the SOB line, nobody seems to be able to play at his speed or level. The don’t seem to anticipate his plays like Ovie and Backstrom can. He’s in a strange zone. He’s good enough to be on the top line, but too good to put there exclusively for fear that it makes the Caps a one line team.
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
i’m so ashamed of the first name that came to mind that i can only bring myself to type his jersey #…87 from pit. pavel datsyuk also strikes me as a guy who could complement our enigmatic russian.
by mechanicsville on Apr 8, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
No need to pair him with other cute players. Put him on the ice with skill and guys that will drive the net and make space for him. Jarome Iginla and (ugh) Mike Richards.
man, iginla would look good in a red sweater!
by mechanicsville on Apr 8, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I was thinking Datsyuk and a banger who’d rather cause havoc and clean up garbage than shoot, so Dusty could work nicely. Or Holmstrom. Or Osala. ;)
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I really hope Osala pans out. (dreams….)
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Who knows, in 2 years he could be taking Fehr’s 8 minutes a game!
by Rob Parker on Apr 8, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i buy the perfectionist bit. still think he would prefer a balance of playmaker and shooter. don’t think he would want to be forced to do that (i.e. playing him at center) but having that creativity on the wing, with the right linemates, is sick.
a linemate we should get, come off season, is Franzen. hooray for delirious dreaming!
by ns on Apr 8, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Who would you pick to play with Sasha?
It would have to be someone who played the same style as he does: by himself. Don’t get me wrong, Semin is great at using his linemates, but, as JP said just a sec ago, he needs someone to adapt to his style. Or simply play their own.
I think he needs someone who is willing to play as if he doesn’t exist, so that Semin can find them and use them to the best of their ability. Ovechkin was that player in his rookie season, but now he doesn’t need to be.
I honestly don’t know who I’d pick to play with Semin. Fedorov would have been my choice, and could just be in a ridiculous slump right now, but he doesn’t seem to be the overall answer.
I’ll have to think about my own question, here, for a bit…
Semin needs players who will just let him take the lead and can anticipate his moves. Ovie and Backstrom can do this already, but we need Semin on a line of his own. Being a one line team is a dangerous line to walk and it CAN work, but if you ask the Ottawa Senators, it can only work for so long.
I wrote a whole post about this at CK, but now I feel it was useless because everyone’s bringing up great points that I over looked.
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn – I just asked pretty much the same question above before reading this. Check it out there (sorry!).
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Ugh, this site is crack. I should be finishing some work but I’m twittering and arguing about which care bear should play with which.
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by CapitalsKremlin on Apr 8, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
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