For Nicklas Bäckström, it was always the Capitals, Brynäs or nothing
This story appeared on hockeysverige.se this week and has been translated from Swedish to English.
Nicklas Bäckström’s comeback with Brynäs isn’t just the beginning of the final chapter of his career—it also marks the end of an almost 20-year-long relationship with the Washington Capitals.
“I couldn’t have imagined it ending any other way,” he said in an interview hockeysverige.se.
It’s been 19 years since that day at General Motors Place in Vancouver. June 24, 2006, became a defining moment not only for Bäckström and the Capitals – but for Swedish hockey as a whole. After St. Louis picked Erik Johnson, Pittsburgh selected Jordan Staal, and Chicago took Jonathan Toews, it was Washington’s turn. Up stepped Alexander Ovechkin to announce their first-round pick: a young center from Valbo, Sweden.
The rest is history.
Fast forward 19 years, and it’s clear the Capitals had landed one of the greatest players in franchise history. Bäckström recorded 1,033 points in 1,105 NHL games, added another 114 points in 139 playoff games, and helped lead the team to a historic Stanley Cup victory—all during a nearly two-decade-long stint with the club. Through it all, he remained loyal to Washington.
And according to Bäckström, there was never any thought of playing elsewhere.
“No, honestly, never,” he said during the press conference where he was introduced as a Brynäs player.
“It was always either Brynäs or Washington. That was it.”
Hockey Svergie: “How does it feel to have spent your entire NHL career with the team that drafted you?“
Nicklas Bäckström: “Very few get to experience that, so I’m extremely proud. But I also couldn’t have seen it happening any other way.”
What was your communication like with Washington over the past two years while you weren’t able to play?
“We’ve had a really good dialogue the whole time. They’re fully aware of what’s happening now. I had 18 incredible years in Washington, both in the city and with the organization. They’ve been exemplary in every way, and I owe them a lot.”
Does it feel bittersweet that your NHL career is over—and that it ended the way it did?
“No, not really. I’m very satisfied with what I accomplished over there. Sure, injuries came into play and complicated things… but that’s just how it goes sometimes. Now, I’m actually looking ahead. I’m looking forward to getting a fresh start in the SHL and with Brynäs.”
And with that, it ends Bäckström’s time in the NHL.
“Washington is a closed chapter for me, for now. We’ve moved back to Sweden. The idea of playing for Brynäs became serious this summer when we came home. That’s when it started to feel real, and we began talking about it. I’ve had a strong desire to play again, and that’s only grown the more time I’ve spent on the ice. Johan (Alcén, Brynäs GM) and I have been in contact for several years.
“My wife has been incredibly supportive and always said I should do what makes me happy. And the kids? They’re super excited. Their friends are Brynäs fans, and now they want to be too.”