NHL

Db_04: En liten text om Bäckström från Washington Post

"Alex Ovechkin was drafted two years ago, but yesterday at General Motors Place in Vancouver, B.C., the Washington Capitals' star found himself standing at center stage once again.

This time he was doing the picking.

In a somewhat surprising gesture, Ovechkin stepped to the lectern and announced the Capitals' No. 4 choice in the NHL entry draft, Sweden's Nicklas Backstrom, a playmaking center who is expected to share the ice with the reigning rookie of the year, perhaps next season.

"That was unbelievable," Backstrom said of hearing his name called by Ovechkin. "He's a great player. I love this guy. It was amazing. He has good speed and is a goal scorer. Maybe we can do it together. I can be a playmaker to him."

"He said to me, 'Welcome.' "

Backstrom was the top-ranked European player available and has drawn comparisons to Philadelphia Flyers star Peter Forsberg, although he later said in a conference call that he patterns his game after Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg. In other words, the 18-year-old Backstrom, who is listed at 6 feet, 184 pounds, is projected to be precisely what the Capitals so desperately need.

"We believe he's a number one playmaking center," Capitals General Manager George McPhee said. "And we believe he's ready now. We'd like to have him here next year, but it's going to be up to him whether he wants to stay in Sweden another year. He's undecided, but says he would be open to it."

Backstrom, the rookie of the year in the Swedish Elite League after amassing 10 goals and 16 assists in 46 games for Brynas, said: "Maybe I can play [in the NHL next season], but it's a decision to make a few weeks after the draft."