Swedish players haven't always been prominent in the world of hockey cards, but with the success of Swede-laden teams like the 2008 Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, that may be starting to change. In the same season, Nicklas Backstrom made his debut for the Washington Capitals, showing right away that he belongs in the discussion as well.
Only three players from Sweden were ever drafted higher than Backstrom, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Though he chose to stay in his native country for one final season, he signed a three-year contract to join the Capitals before the 2007-08 season.
Just 19 when his rookie campaign got underway, Backstrom worked his way into the NHL game slowly. But injuries gave him a chance to center the team's top line later in the season, and his point totals took off as he became the playmaking compliment to sniper Alexander Ovechkin.
Backstrom finished with 55 assists and 69 points while playing all 82 games, totals which earned him enough votes to finish as the runner-up to Patrick Kane for the Calder Trophy. More importantly, his emergence was a big reason the Capitals were able to shake off a 6-14-1 start and come back to win the Southeast Division title for the first time in seven seasons.
With young scorers like Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Mike Green as teammates, the future for Backstrom and his 2007-08 rookie cards looks very promising. Though he'll likely continue to trail the likes of Kane and Carey Price in terms of values, don't expect to come by top cards like his The Cup # 187 or his Ultimate Collection # 160 without parting with nice chunks of change.
2007-08 Nicklas Backstrom Rookie Cards
- Be A Player # 299 - #'d to 99
- Black Diamond # 198
- Hot Prospects # 254 - autographed jersey card #'d to 199
- O-Pee-Chee # 598
- OPC Premier # 141 - autographed jersey card #'d to 299
- SP Authentic # 250 - autographed, #'d to 999
- SP Game Used # 191 - #'d to 99
- SPx # 236 - autographed jersey card
- Sweet Shot # 107 - jersey card #'d to 599
- The Cup # 187 - autographed jersey card #'d to 99
- UD Artifacts # 207
- UD Mini Jersey Collection # 150
- Ultimate Collection # 160 - autographed, #'d to 99
- Upper Deck # 249
- Upper Deck Ice # 217 - #'d to 99
- Upper Deck MVP # 358
- Upper Deck Trilogy # 180 - #'d to 999
- Upper Deck Victory # 331