The Washington Capitals have signed center Nicklas Backstrom to a five-year, $46.5 million extension.
Backstrom’s new deal will carry a $9.2 million cap hit per year starting in 2020-2021 season. The deal sets him up with the possibility of retiring a Capital and not playing for another franchise.
Backstrom, 32, has played all 934 of his career games with the Capitals since being the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He is fifth all-time in games played in Capitals’ history.
Backstrom’s 668 assists are most all-time in the franchise’s history. His 908 points are second only to Alex Ovechkin in Caps’ history.
He and Ovechkin have been synonymous with the Capitals. The two have played in more than 900 career games together. The pair help guide the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
Just as Ovechkin announced the selection of Backstrom at the 2006 NHL Draft, Ovechkin announced his teammate’s re-signing.
