Niklas Bäckström facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Niklas Bäckström
Bäckström with HIFK in 2016
Born	(1978-02-13) 13 February 1978 (age 47) Helsinki, Finland
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	197 lb (89 kg; 14 st 1 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	HIFK SaiPa AIK IF Kärpät Minnesota Wild Calgary Flames Tappara
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1996–2019
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing  Finland Olympic Games Silver 2006 Turin Bronze 2010 Vancouver World Championships Silver 2016 Russia Bronze 2008 Canada World Junior Championship Gold 1998 Finland

Niklas Oskar Bäckström (born 13 February 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames. He won important awards like the William M. Jennings Trophy and the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award. He also won the Urpo Ylönen trophy and Jari Kurri trophy twice in Finland. Niklas is a Swedish-speaking Finn and also speaks Finnish. After his playing career, he became a goaltending coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting in Finland

Niklas Bäckström started his career in Finland. He was a backup goaltender for the Finnish national team that won the 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He played for teams like HIFK, SaiPa, and Kärpät in the Finnish SM-liiga.

Bäckström helped Kärpät win two league titles in a row in 2004 and 2005. His great play caught the attention of NHL teams. On 1 June 2006, he signed a contract with the Minnesota Wild.

Joining the Minnesota Wild

Niklas Bäckström joined the Minnesota Wild for the 2006–07 season. He made his NHL debut on 7 October 2006. He came into a game and helped his team win 6–5. On 24 November 2006, he got his first NHL shutout, meaning he didn't let any goals in.

When the main goalie got hurt, Bäckström stepped up. He played very well, helping the Wild win many games. He finished his first NHL season with the best goals against average (GAA) and save percentage in the league. He also shared the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals.

Bäckström playing for the Wild in December 2007.

For the 2007–08 season, Bäckström became the Wild's main starting goalie. He continued to play strongly, winning his first four games. He was even considered for the NHL All-Star Game. He set a new team record with 31 wins that season. He also helped the Wild win their first division title.

In the 2008–09 season, Bäckström had an amazing year. He set new personal bests for games played and wins. He recorded his 15th career shutout early in the season. He also set a new team record for the longest shutout streak, not letting in a goal for over 149 minutes. His excellent play earned him a spot in his first NHL All-Star Game. He finished the season with 37 wins, a new team record. He was also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, which is given to the NHL's best goalie.

The next few seasons were a bit tougher for Bäckström. He reached his 100th NHL win in November 2009. He also became the Wild's all-time leader in wins and shutouts. However, he dealt with some injuries, including a back injury and a groin injury. Despite this, he was chosen to play for Team Finland in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Bäckström with the Wild in September 2011.

For the 2011–12 season, Bäckström continued as the Wild's starting goalie. He had a career-best game on 19 February, making 48 saves in a shutout. This was the most saves ever by a Wild goalie in a shutout. He had ankle surgery after this season.

During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Bäckström stayed in Minnesota to recover from an ankle injury. When the NHL season started, he returned as the Wild's top goalie. He played well and helped the Wild make it to the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. However, he got hurt during warmups before their first playoff game and couldn't play. He had another surgery during the offseason.

Bäckström signed a new contract with the Wild before the 2013–14 season. He continued to face injuries, including a lower-body injury and an upper-body injury. He missed a lot of games that season. He had another surgery to fix a core muscle injury.

The 2014–15 season was Bäckström's last with the Wild. He struggled with injuries and consistency. The Wild brought in another goalie, Devan Dubnyk, who played very well. Bäckström didn't play any more games for the Wild that season. It was later found that he had nerve damage in his right hand.

Time with the Calgary Flames

In February 2016, Bäckström was traded to the Calgary Flames. He played in four games for the Flames, winning two and losing two. This was his last time playing in the NHL.

Returning to Finland

After his NHL career, Niklas Bäckström returned to Finland. On 10 June 2016, he signed a one-year contract with his former team, HIFK. In May 2018, he signed another one-year contract with Tappara. He finished his playing career in Finland in 2019.

Coaching Career

In July 2019, Niklas Bäckström started a new chapter in his hockey career. He was hired as the European goaltending development coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He worked in this role for four years. In 2023, he moved to the United States to become the Blue Jackets' main goaltending coach.

Personal Life

Niklas Bäckström is married to Heidi, and they have two children named Benjamin and Isabella.

Records

Minnesota Wild Team Records

• Most wins by a goalie: 194
• Most shutouts in one season: 8 (during the 2008–09 season)

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play

Awards and Achievements

Bäckström during the 2005 IIHF World Championship