Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is sharing his true view on his longtime teammate Nicklas Backstrom, who recently had to retire because of injuries.
Washington Capitals captain and current NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin will always have a special bond with his former longtime teammate Nicklas Backstrom, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Backstrom, who was recently forced to retire from professional hockey because of injuries, played in 1,058 games with Ovechkin and assisted on 279 of his goals, the most of any other player.
While interviewing with MatchTV, Ovechkin had strong words for Backstrom as he looked back upon their careers.
We grew up together as hockey players, as people. One of my best partners, of course.
Backstrom was in attendance in April earlier this year when Ovechkin became the NHL's leading goal scorer, and later posed with him in the dressing room afterwards with the puck that was used to score.
Ovechkin clearly appreciated the gesture by Backstrom, along with another former teammate in TJ Oshie.
As soon as I saw 'Nicky,' I just wanted to cry. And we hold (each other). He was such a big part of my success, and we've grown up together. We play together, we've been in so many different situations together, and that relationship in that moment with him and 'Osh' (T.J. Oshie) being here, yeah, it's tremendous. It's support. It's always been like that. I tell him, 'Without you, I would never reach that milestone.'
The future of Ovechkin with the Capitals beyond the upcoming year remains the subject of speculation, as he's entering the last year of his current deal.
