Confirmed Signing with Link: [WSH] Backstrom extension with Caps (5 years, $9.2M AAV)

[Toronto makebeleifs]

Pretty good contract. Might show his age by yr 4, but the 5 yr term is pretty mint. Congrats caps fans

 

[SpinningEdge]

You don’t let a hall of famer who wants to spend his whole career (and was a huge part of you cup run) walk.

He’s one of the best defensive centers in league, Ovi has said he wants him and Backstrom to go out together, and in past 4 playoff years Backstrom has 55 points in 52 games.

He’s solid. I think he ages similar to Thornton too. Similar styles.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Under 10 million for one of their best players. People think 32 is old? Man, a lot of these keyboard warriors are about to hit retirement soon then.

It's not young. There are only 71 players older than Backstrom in the NHL. Only 7 that are older than what Backstrom will be in the second last year of his deal (36)

 

[izzy]

eh

could look rough on the last year or so but its fair imo

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

You don’t let a hall of famer who wants to spend his whole career (and was a huge part of you cup run) walk.

He’s one of the best defensive centers in league, Ovi has said he wants him and Backstrom to go out together, and in past 4 playoff years Backstrom has 55 points in 52 games.

He’s solid. I think he ages similar to Thornton too. Similar styles.

Backstrom's going to look like a crazy homeless man in his late 30's as well?

 

[Silky mitts]

Backstrom's going to look like a crazy homeless man in his late 30's as well?

Their games aren't dissimilar but they are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of ability to grow facial hair.

 

[Calicaps]

First off, after the Cup win in 2018, the team's owner said publicly that 8 and 19 would be Caps for life, cost be damned.

And they want more Cups.

But also, Backstrom and Ovie are on a mission to break the all-time goals record together. This is step one. If they're in real striking distance by the end of this contract, they'll be signing one-year deals to chase it down.

 

[nihlify]

This I don't get. How is Toews contract worse?

Basically the same point output the last two years, both palyers are pretty good defensively, yet Toews contract has 3 more years, Backstroms has 5 after this year.

Last 2 years
Toews 116pts in 128GP (0.90pts/GP)
Backstrom 109pts in 119GP (0.91pts/GP)

Considering Toews (Saad/Nylander this year) has played with a lot worse players than Backstrom (Ovechkin/Wilson) has in those 120 or so games, is Toews contract bad if Backstroms isn't?

I haven't watched much Blackhawks but I've seen a lot of people saying he needs to raise his game in game day threads. Maybe something other than points?

 

[Hawkaholic]

I haven't watched much Blackhawks but I've seen a lot of people saying he needs to raise his game in game day threads. Maybe something other than points?

Earlier in the season he wasn't very good. But since the coach switched systems in early Nov, he is top 10 in the league in ES pts, has positive Corsi numbers on a terrible defensive Hawk team (2nd on his team next to Saad) and is near a point per game. He's pretty much the same player he was last year at this point.

 

[Jeremy Hronek]

Horrible deal. He has been slowing down for a few years now. His speed is not there anymore. He has 9 goals this season...

The other issue is that they have McMichael who is should be ready for the NHL next season. Him and Kuznetsov are their future. So there was no need for this overpayment...

He has never been a goal scorer, he was putting up 18 goals in his prime which is a similar pace to this year.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Fair deal.

 

[End of Line]

Given Backstrom's game and lack of physicality, his longevity won't be an issue unless he suffers something spinal related.

 

[CanadianPensFan1]

I dont like Beckstrom (ha) but i dont see a problem with this deal.

32ish now. Ends when he's 37. Good for 70+ pts a year. MIGHT start to slow down the last year but you worry about that then.

Not sure what this does for the Capitals cap structure though. Ovi makes $9.5ish, Carlsson and Kuz make $8 mil. Now this $9 mil. I cant imagine how Holtby gets signed .. if they want to i suppose.

 

[34]

Wow, these 5 and 6 year contracts have become the norm now. No one wants to sign 8 years.

 

[Crosscrease14]

Slight overpay but he definitely earned it

 

[Boxscore]

Great player. Will be nice to see him retire a career Cap.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Hell of a player. Swedes tend to age well and Backstrom is a smart cookie who doesn't rely on his physical attributes to be effective. Barring injuries I see this contract being fine.

 

[Favster]

At his age, I'd rather pay him 9.2 for 5 years than 8 for 8. Good signing.

 

[philip]

Backstrom is the Andrea Pirlo of the NHL. He doesn't need to move much and show crazy turns of speed to have an effect on the game. Let your Vrana's et al burn the ice up. I can't see a reason why Backstrom won't age like a fine wine. HOWEVER this does seem like a lot of money... I reckon about 1m aav too much. That's not 'bury your face in your pillow and cry' type of overpayment though by any means. I'm just conscious of the fact that in a year or two, we're gonna have a bunch of old guys taking a big portion of our wage cap.

 

[nbwingsfan]

This I don't get. How is Toews contract worse?

Basically the same point output the last two years, both palyers are pretty good defensively, yet Toews contract has 3 more years, Backstroms has 5 after this year.

Last 2 years
Toews 116pts in 128GP (0.90pts/GP)
Backstrom 109pts in 119GP (0.91pts/GP)

Considering Toews (Saad/Nylander this year) has played with a lot worse players than Backstrom (Ovechkin/Wilson) has in those 120 or so games, is Toews contract bad if Backstroms isn't?

3 of Toews years of a $10M cap hit he had ~50pts. That’s why it’s a much worse contract. I like how you only talk about the last two years solely because one of those years includes Toews only 80pt season.

 

[ZeHockeyFan]

That’s a lot of money for a C who has gotten a point per game one season since 2012-13

He was on a very affordable deal for a long time. It's a bit in the player's favor, but fair deal in all.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Calling it now. Ovie re-signs for 4 years and retires at the end of the 2024-25 season.

 

[I am Canadian]

Wow, these 5 and 6 year contracts have become the norm now. No one wants to sign 8 years.

Young players who can make more after the new TV deal take 5 year deals. Washington was the one to not offer that much term.

Guys like Hayes go for the 7 years because they know they aren't going to be paid more or even playing in the NHL anymore.

 

[Menzinger]

Going agent free was incredibly smart in this case

 

[SharksFan1]

Under 10 million for one of their best players. People think 32 is old? Man, a lot of these keyboard warriors are about to hit retirement soon then.

Seriously. There are players who don't hit their prime till 29 or 30 and play elite hockey well into their mid-30s. At 32 year-old, a 5 year deal for one of your best and most consistent players seems perfectly fine. If it was a 7 or 8 year deal I'd be worried, but 5 years seems fine. Maybe he starts to slow down the last year or two, but I don't see him dropping off a cliff as far as production goes.