Who is the next Nicklas Bäckström?

[delled]

I was on a hockey sabbatical for numerous years a little while after the 2000s. I returned for a bit when I heard about rookies like Crosby and Ovechkin. Ovechkin forced me to watch the Capitals in the playoffs. And in watching that, I found that, man is Backstrom ever a fantastic player to observe. His little plays are what sell me, crazy hockey intelligence, discipline and dedication, and he's always remined me of hockey's Eazy E...he's tiny and you think of him as a joke, but he does the right things right...don't f with him.

So my question is basically, who is the next center to be underrated (outside HF Boards) but is a godamn savage in reliability?

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[amnesiac]

Galchenyuk

 

[JayKing]

In many ways Galchenyuk reminds me of Backstrom but we'll see if he becomes a regular ppg player that can man the power play. He'll never be underrated though because of the team he plays for.

 

[tarheelhockey]

We keep hearing Elias Lindholm compared to Backstrom. I'm not sure if it's the Swedish thing or if people really see it.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I was on a hockey sabbatical for numerous years a little while after the 2000s. I returned for a bit when I heard about rookies like Crosby and Ovechkin. Ovechkin forced me to watch the Capitals in the playoffs. And in watching that, I found that, man is Backstrom ever a fantastic player to observe. His little plays are what sell me, crazy hockey intelligence, discipline and dedication, and he's always remined me of hockey's Eazy E...he's tiny and you think of him as a joke, but he does the right things right...don't f with him.

So my question is basically, who is the next center to be underrated (outside HF Boards) but is a godamn savage in reliability?

6'1" 212 lbs.

You call that tiny ? I guess we're all microscopic then.

From what I've seen, I think Drouin has a similar skill set to Bäckström.

 

[amnesiac]

6'1" 212 lbs.

You call that tiny ? I guess we're all microscopic then.

From what I've seen, I think Drouin has a similar skill set to Bäckström.

To me Backstrom is more of a top tier playmaker at centre, a PP specialist, doesnt score much, a la Joe Thornton.

Drouin to me will be a Pat Kane type. Elite hands, great playmaking skill on the wing, but a little 1-dimensional.

 

[ARoggy94]

Nugent-Hopkins

 

[SeidoN]

probably Galchenyuk imo

 

[cassius]

Galchenyuk hype is strong around these parts - I really don't see the Backstrom comparison at all. Galchenyuk wasn't a prolific scorer at any level like Backstrom was.

Backstrom was scoring at almost a PPG clip at age 18 playing against men in Sweden's top tier level.

 

[Warden of the North]

Nylander, or so I hope

 

[Fear the Wushu]

To me Backstrom is more of a top tier playmaker at centre, a PP specialist, doesnt score much, a la Joe Thornton.

Drouin to me will be a Pat Kane type. Elite hands, great playmaking skill on the wing, but a little 1-dimensional.

What's the problem with being one-dimensional when your impossible to stop? I would not call Kaner even close to being one dimensional, by the far the most entertaining player to watch in the offensive zone in the entire NHL. And as I said before, one dimensional is not a bad thing. I have yet to see an A game Patrick Kane get stopped.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Nugent-Hopkins

Next Bozak maybe..

I'll say Nylander, but I think his ceiling is even higher than Backstroms

 

[Sam Spade]

Nugent-Hopkins

Not sold on him at all as a number one center. You don't notice him for really long portions of games.

I think Toews and Backstrom play a very similar game. Toews has a bit more of a temper than Backs though.

 

[Korpse]

Next Bozak maybe..

I'll say Nylander, but I think his ceiling is even higher than Backstroms

Not sold on him at all as a number one center. You don't notice him for really long portions of games.

I think Toews and Backstrom play a very similar game. Toews has a bit more of a temper than Backs though.

Well RNH is already underrated.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Well RNH is already underrated.

Not really..

He plays with Hall (popular #1 LW pick on HF) and Eberle.

He has this year 9 goals, 13 A 22P in 33 games - 7 (on pace for 54 points)

He is playing with the #1 LW winger in the NHL and a 30 goal scorer, and has 22 points. He also sucks on D, and is over rated in that regard (kind of like Bozak). Not a great faceoff guy. He also makes 6mil.

If you think I was being cheeky with the Bozak comparison..

Bozak makes 4.2, this year

13 G 15 A 28 P in 35 games -2 (on pace for 66 points).

He is also a much better faceoff guy.

Obviously Bozak is better now as he is older, but if RNH can't even put up points with an all star winger and a goal scorer, his ceiling is not that high. Him and Bozak are very similar players.

 

[FireBurningBin]

Galchenyuk hype is strong around these parts - I really don't see the Backstrom comparison at all. Galchenyuk wasn't a prolific scorer at any level like Backstrom was.

Backstrom was scoring at almost a PPG clip at age 18 playing against men in Sweden's top tier level.

Well, in all fairness Galchenyuk was injured in his draft year, and absolutely dominated when he was healthy the next year.

 

[amnesiac]

What's the problem with being one-dimensional when your impossible to stop? I would not call Kaner even close to being one dimensional, by the far the most entertaining player to watch in the offensive zone in the entire NHL. And as I said before, one dimensional is not a bad thing. I have yet to see an A game Patrick Kane get stopped.

never said it was a problem, Ill take Pat Kane and his skill on my team any day of the week. I was just saying Drouin is similar in that regard. Both are small, dont hit, and arent very defensively aware.

 

[amnesiac]

Galchenyuk hype is strong around these parts - I really don't see the Backstrom comparison at all. Galchenyuk wasn't a prolific scorer at any level like Backstrom was.

Backstrom was scoring at almost a PPG clip at age 18 playing against men in Sweden's top tier level.

yeah seriously, "not a prolific scorer"?? 27 goals 61 pts in 33 games in his last year in Sarnia WITHOUT Yakupov. What more couldve he done? I mean really?

You cant say Backstrom was better just cus he was playing against men. Both proved themselves before coming the the NHL, and thats all you can say. David Rundblad dominated the SEL too, and look how he turned out.

 

[Teemu Salami]

People say William Karlsson skates like Backstrom. So him, obviously.

 

[Scrobble]

I think Toews and Backstrom play a very similar game. Toews has a bit more of a temper than Backs though.

Bäckström is a creative hockey player, Toews is not at all. Don't see the similarity between them at all really.

 

[SB164]

Backstrom is definitely underrated. I love his ability to slow the game down when entering the O-zone and protect the puck along the boards.

 

[Atomos2]

Galchenyuk hype is strong around these parts - I really don't see the Backstrom comparison at all. Galchenyuk wasn't a prolific scorer at any level like Backstrom was.

Backstrom was scoring at almost a PPG clip at age 18 playing against men in Sweden's top tier level.

You mean like Nylander?

 

[Korpse]

Not really..

He plays with Hall (popular #1 LW pick on HF) and Eberle.

That says all I need to know.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Bruce Boudreau compared William Karlsson to Backstrom. Sees a lot of similarities after having coached both players.

 

[OzzyFan]

I was on a hockey sabbatical for numerous years a little while after the 2000s. I returned for a bit when I heard about rookies like Crosby and Ovechkin. Ovechkin forced me to watch the Capitals in the playoffs. And in watching that, I found that, man is Backstrom ever a fantastic player to observe. His little plays are what sell me, crazy hockey intelligence, discipline and dedication, and he's always remined me of hockey's Eazy E...he's tiny and you think of him as a joke, but he does the right things right...don't f with him.

So my question is basically, who is the next center to be underrated (outside HF Boards) but is a godamn savage in reliability?

You are describing Bergeron. Or maybe Couturier.

If you are looking for a younging with Backstrom's playmaking skillset, Drouin is as close as it gets.