The Washington Capitals have locked up Alex Ovechkin’s center, Niklas Backstrom, to a 10-year deal worth $67 million. The deal will lock up Backstrom until 2020, just one year before Ovechkin’s contract expires in 2021. Backstrom, who has played three straight seasons of 82 games, has really excelled while playing with Ovechkin, netting 258 points (69-189) in 246 games played. Last year was Backstrom’s best, netting career highs in goals (33), assists (68), points (101), and SOG (222), while helping lead the Caps to the President’s Trophy.
The signing of Backstrom long term gives Washington a deadly combination on their top line for the next decade. The Caps have 14 players under contract, with $13.3 million in cap space heading into the offseason. With 20 free agents (9 RFAs, 11 UFAs), the Caps have their work cut out for them. Their key RFAs include Tomas Fleischmann and Jeff Schultz. It is going to take some savvy cap maneuvering, but it is definitely doable by all means to have an equally dangerous team in the 2010-2011 season.
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