Niklas Bäckström
Encyclopedia
Niklas Oskar Bäckström (born February 13, 1978) is a Finnish
professional ice hockey
goaltender
currently playing for the Minnesota Wild
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He has won both William M. Jennings Trophy
and Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award
. He also has won both Urpo Ylönen trophy
and Jari Kurri trophy
twice.
Bäckström is a Swedish-speaking Finn.
as a backup goaltender for the Finnish national team, along with players like Olli Jokinen
, Niklas Hagman
, Mika Noronen
, Niko Kapanen
, Toni Dahlman
and Eero Somervuori
. Bäckström was the third goaltender for Team Finland in the 2006 Winter Olympics
, but did not play any games. In the Finnish SM-liiga
he played for HIFK
, SaiPa
and Kärpät
. Bäckström led Kärpät to two consecutive league titles in 2004 and 2005. Bäckström signed a one-year contract with the Wild on June 1, 2006.
At the beginning of the 2006–2007 season, Bäckström was the backup for the Wild's starting goaltender, Manny Fernandez
. Fernandez suffered a knee injury mid-season and Bäckström was forced into the starting position. Bäckström played exceptionally over the second half of the season, finishing first in the league in both goals against average
(GAA) and save percentage
, while tying Dwayne Roloson
's team record with five shutouts in just 36 starts.
Upon the trade of Fernandez in 2007, Bäckström became Minnesota's starting goaltender. He recorded 33 wins in the 2007–08 NHL season, and was the starter for Minnesota's first round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche
, which Colorado won in six games.
Though he was due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2009, Bäckström signed a four-year, $24 million contract on March 3, 2009 to remain with the Wild. Despite Bäckström's 37 wins and strong goaltending, the Wild ultimately did not qualify for the playoffs in 2009. In that season, Bäckström was the second runner-up for the Vezina Trophy
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing for the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He has won both William M. Jennings Trophy
William M. Jennings Trophy
The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
and Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award
The Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, officially billed as the MBNA/Mastercard Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, is an award in ice hockey given annually to the goaltender who finished the regular season with the best save percentage in the National Hockey League . Only goaltenders who played 25...
. He also has won both Urpo Ylönen trophy
Urpo Ylönen trophy
The Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
and Jari Kurri trophy
Jari Kurri trophy
The Jari Kurri trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player in the SM-liiga playoffs. The trophy is named after Jari Kurri....
twice.
Bäckström is a Swedish-speaking Finn.
Career
Niklas Bäckström won the 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Quarterfinals :- Semifinals :- Placement games :- 7th place game :- 5th place game :- Bronze medal game :- Gold medal game :- Relegation round : lost the two game total goal series 17-3 and was relegated for the 1999 World Juniors...
as a backup goaltender for the Finnish national team, along with players like Olli Jokinen
Olli Jokinen
Olli Jokinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was initially drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1997, third overall after Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. He was the captain of the Florida Panthers from 2003...
, Niklas Hagman
Niklas Hagman
Niklas Hagman is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . He was a third round pick of the Florida Panthers, 70th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with Florida in 2001...
, Mika Noronen
Mika Noronen
Mika Noronen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Lukko of SM-liiga.- Career :...
, Niko Kapanen
Niko Kapanen
Niko Klaus Petteri Kapanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Toni Dahlman
Toni Dahlman
Toni Dahlman is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for Graz 99ers of the Austrian Hockey League...
and Eero Somervuori
Eero Somervuori
Eero Somervuori is a Finnish ice hockey forward. He is currently playing for Brynäs IF in the Swedish Elitserien. He has won the Finnish Championship twice, in 1996/97 with Jokerit and 2004/05 with Kärpät....
. Bäckström was the third goaltender for Team Finland in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
, but did not play any games. In the Finnish SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
he played for HIFK
HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...
, SaiPa
SaiPa
Saimaan Pallo is an ice hockey team in the Finnish SM-liiga. They play their home games at Kisapuisto in Lappeenranta, Finland.-History:The team's best achievement is from the 1965-1966 season, when they won bronze medals for placing third...
and Kärpät
Kärpät
Oulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:...
. Bäckström led Kärpät to two consecutive league titles in 2004 and 2005. Bäckström signed a one-year contract with the Wild on June 1, 2006.
At the beginning of the 2006–2007 season, Bäckström was the backup for the Wild's starting goaltender, Manny Fernandez
Emmanuel Fernandez
Emmanuel Fernandez is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and the Boston Bruins.- Playing career :...
. Fernandez suffered a knee injury mid-season and Bäckström was forced into the starting position. Bäckström played exceptionally over the second half of the season, finishing first in the league in both goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
(GAA) and save percentage
Save percentage
Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
, while tying Dwayne Roloson
Dwayne Roloson
Albert Dwayne Roloson is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders during his professional career...
's team record with five shutouts in just 36 starts.
Upon the trade of Fernandez in 2007, Bäckström became Minnesota's starting goaltender. He recorded 33 wins in the 2007–08 NHL season, and was the starter for Minnesota's first round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, which Colorado won in six games.
Though he was due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2009, Bäckström signed a four-year, $24 million contract on March 3, 2009 to remain with the Wild. Despite Bäckström's 37 wins and strong goaltending, the Wild ultimately did not qualify for the playoffs in 2009. In that season, Bäckström was the second runner-up for the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
.
Awards
- 1997-98: Gold Medal, World Juniors (U-20) Championship
- 1997-98: Silver Medal, SM-liiga
- 2002-03: Silver Medal, SM-liiga
- 2003-04: All-Star Team, SM-liiga
- 2003-04: Urpo Ylönen trophyUrpo Ylönen trophyThe Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
(Best Goaltender), SM-liiga - 2003-04: Jari Kurri trophyJari Kurri trophyThe Jari Kurri trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player in the SM-liiga playoffs. The trophy is named after Jari Kurri....
(Best Player, Playoffs), SM-liiga - 2003-04: Kanada-maljaKanada-maljaThe Kanada-malja is an ice hockey club championship trophy, awarded annually to the SM-liiga playoffs champion. Kanada-malja is Finnish for "Canada Cup", and is so named because it was donated by Canada's Finnish community in 1951....
trophy, as a member of Kärpät, SM-liiga - 2004-05: All-Star Team, SM-liiga
- 2004-05: Urpo Ylönen trophyUrpo Ylönen trophyThe Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
(Best Goaltender), SM-liiga - 2004-05: Jari Kurri trophyJari Kurri trophyThe Jari Kurri trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player in the SM-liiga playoffs. The trophy is named after Jari Kurri....
(Best Player, Playoffs), SM-liiga - 2004-05: Kanada-maljaKanada-maljaThe Kanada-malja is an ice hockey club championship trophy, awarded annually to the SM-liiga playoffs champion. Kanada-malja is Finnish for "Canada Cup", and is so named because it was donated by Canada's Finnish community in 1951....
trophy, as a member of Kärpät, SM-liiga - 2005-06: Olympic Silver Medal, as a member of Team Finland
- 2005-06: Bronze Medal, SM-liiga
- 2005-06: Bronze Medal, World Championship, as a member of Team Finland
- 2006-07: William M. Jennings TrophyWilliam M. Jennings TrophyThe William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
(best goals-against average), as a member of Minnesota WildMinnesota WildThe Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
(shared with Manny FernandezEmmanuel FernandezEmmanuel Fernandez is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and the Boston Bruins.- Playing career :...
), NHL - 2006-07: Roger Crozier Saving Grace AwardRoger Crozier Saving Grace AwardThe Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, officially billed as the MBNA/Mastercard Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, is an award in ice hockey given annually to the goaltender who finished the regular season with the best save percentage in the National Hockey League . Only goaltenders who played 25...
(best save percentage), NHL - 2007-08: Bronze Medal, World Championship
- 2009-10: Olympic Bronze Medal, as a member of Team Finland
Minnesota Wild franchise records
- Most wins: 141 (as of completion of 2010-11 NHL season)
- Most wins in a season: 37 (2008–09)
- Most shutouts in a season: 8 (2008–09)
Regular season and playoffs
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OT | SO | GA | SA | SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | HIFK HIFK (ice hockey) HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897... |
SM-liiga SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .824 | 5.85 | — |
| 1997–98 | HIFK | SM-liiga | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | HIFK | SM-liiga | 16 | 9 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 26 | — | .932 | 1.69 | — |
| 1999–00 | HIFK | SM-liiga | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .785 | 6.58 | — |
| 2000–01 | SaiPa SaiPa Saimaan Pallo is an ice hockey team in the Finnish SM-liiga. They play their home games at Kisapuisto in Lappeenranta, Finland.-History:The team's best achievement is from the 1965-1966 season, when they won bronze medals for placing third... |
SM-liiga | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .924 | 2.55 | — |
| 2001–02 | AIK | SEL Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
40 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 111 | 1,073 | .897 | 3.05 | 2,186 |
| 2002–03 | Kärpät Kärpät Oulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:... |
SM-liiga | 36 | 16 | 8 | 9 | — | 4 | 77 | 1,080 | .929 | 2.16 | 2,136 |
| 2003–04 | Kärpät | SM-liiga | 43 | 24 | 8 | 8 | — | 7 | 87 | 1,353 | .936 | 2.03 | 2,572 |
| 2004–05 | Kärpät | SM-liiga | 47 | 27 | 10 | 10 | — | 7 | 102 | 1,387 | .927 | 2.17 | 2,819 |
| 2005–06 | Kärpät | SM-liiga | 51 | 32 | 9 | 10 | — | 10 | 86 | 1,422 | .940 | 1.68 | 3,077 |
| 2006–07 | Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
41 | 23 | 8 | — | 6 | 5 | 73 | 1,028 | .929 | 1.97 | 2,226 |
| 2007–08 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 58 | 33 | 13 | — | 8 | 4 | 131 | 1,629 | .920 | 2.31 | 3,408 |
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 71 | 37 | 24 | — | 8 | 8 | 159 | 2,059 | .923 | 2.33 | 4,088 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 60 | 26 | 23 | — | 8 | 2 | 158 | 1,632 | .903 | 2.72 | 3,489 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 51 | 22 | 23 | — | 5 | 3 | 158 | 1,566 | .916 | 2.66 | 2,978 |
| NHL totals | 281 | 141 | 91 | — | 35 | 22 | 653 | 7,914 | .917 | 2.42 | 16,190 | ||
International play
| Tournament | Year | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EHT Euro Hockey Tour The Euro Hockey Tour is an annual ice hockey tournament only open to the national men's teams of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden. Most of the teams use the competition as a preparation for the upcoming World Championships or Olympics, allowing less experienced players to collect... |
2004–05 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 180 | 7 | 1 | 2.23 | .928 |
| IHWC | 2005 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2005 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held March 7 - May 15, 2005, in 7 cities in 6 countries: Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria ; Debrecen, Hungary ; Eindhoven, the Netherlands ; Zagreb, Croatia ; Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro ; Mexico City, Mexico... |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 310 | 12 | 1 | 2.32 | .902 |
| EHT | 2005–06 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 124 | 3 | 0 | 1.45 | .956 |
| Totals | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 614. | 22 | 2 | 2.14 | — | |