Christian Bäckman

Christian Rune Bäckman (born 28 April 1980 in Alingsås, Sweden) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played over 300 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, and spent the latter part of his career with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League.[1]

Christian Bäckman
Born (1980-04-28) 28 April 1980
Alingsås, Sweden
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Frölunda HC
St. Louis Blues
New York Rangers
Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 24th overall, 1998
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 19982015

Playing career

Bäckman was drafted by St. Louis Blues in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, 1st round, 24th overall. It was not until the 2002–03 NHL season that he got a contract for play in the NHL. He only played four games for St. Louis in his first season, spending the rest of the season playing for Worcester Ice Cats in the American Hockey League (AHL). Between 2003–04 and 2007–08 he was a regular for St. Louis recording 64 points (19 goals, 45 assists), and 130 penalty minutes in 228 games.[2]

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout Bäckman played for his Swedish youth club Frölunda in Elitserien where he totalled 19 points in 50 games, winning the Elitserien playoffs.[2]

St. Louis announced on 10 August 2006 that the club re-signed Bäckman for a multi-year contract, although no contract details was released.[3] According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet the contract gives Bäckman 50 million Swedish kronor (approx. $7 million) over three years.[4]

On 26 February 2008, Bäckman was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 4th round draft pick. On 2 March 2008, in his second game as a Ranger, Bäckman scored his first goal as a Ranger on Antero Niittymäki of the Philadelphia Flyers, off assists from Brendan Shanahan and Scott Gomez.[5]

On 2 July 2008, Bäckman was traded, along with Fedor Tyutin, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche. In October 2009, Bäckman signalled the conclusion of his North American career by signing with Frölunda HC.

Personal life

Bäckman was born 1980 in a small town Alingsås. He has two siblings. He grew up in mostly Alingsås but moved to Gothenburg to start his Ice Hockey career.

Bäckman is married to wife Jeanette Bäckman. Together they have 3 children. William Bäckman born in 2001, Thea Bäckman born in 2004 and Ellie Bäckman born in 2010. He spends his off-season in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1996–97 Västra Frölunda HC J20 2625716
1997–98 Västra Frölunda HC J20 285141912
1998–99 Västra Frölunda HC J20 904412
1998–99 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 490444 40000
1999–2000 Västra Frölunda HC J20 31120 31120
1999–2000 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 2710114 50000
1999–2000 Gislaveds SK SWE II 215278
2000–01 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 501101132 30222
2001–02 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 44741138 100008
2002–03 Worcester IceCats AHL 728192766 30115
2002–03 St. Louis Blues NHL 40000
2003–04 Worcester IceCats AHL 41232
2003–04 St. Louis Blues NHL 665131816 50224
2004–05 Frölunda HC SEL 504151940 1427910
2005–06 St. Louis Blues NHL 526121848
2006–07 St. Louis Blues NHL 617111836
2007–08 St. Louis Blues NHL 45191030
2007–08 New York Rangers NHL 1826820 800012
2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 5625732
2009–10 Frölunda HC SEL 4710182846 71236
2010–11 Frölunda HC SEL 21413178
2011–12 Frölunda HC SEL 5511162748 60222
2012–13 Frölunda HC SEL 577152236 61340
2013–14 Frölunda HC SHL 5025736 71122
2014–15 Frölunda HC SHL 3343716 130228
SEL/SHL totals 48051103154318 755192438
NHL totals 302235679182 1302216
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
2006 Turin
World Championships
2004 Prague
2010 Germany

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1997 Sweden EJC18 40002
1998 Sweden EJC18 62682
1999 Sweden WJC 4th 60330
2000 Sweden WJC 5th 71126
2004 Sweden WC 91236
2005 Sweden WC 4th 91126
2006 Sweden OG 81236
2010 Sweden WC 903310
Junior totals 233101310
Senior totals 35381128

Awards and honors

Award Year
SHL
All-Star Team 2005
Le Mat trophy (Frölunda HC) 2005

References

  1. "Bäckman retires from professional career". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
  2. "Christian Bäckman player profile". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 11 August 2006.
  3. "Blues Sign Christian Backman To Multi-Year Contract". St. Louis Blues Hockey Club L.L.C. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2006.
  4. "Bäckmans lönehöjning: 10 miljoner per år" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet.se. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2006.
  5. "Rangers 5, Flyers 4, SO". 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Marty Reasoner
St. Louis Blues first round draft pick
1998
Succeeded by
Barret Jackman
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