Nicklas Bäckström is set for his SHL return this coming weekend. The last time he played for his boyhood club Brynäs in Gävle was in 2007. After a storied career with the Washington Capitals and 1,105 NHL games, he is now headed for a much-anticipated comeback.
On Tuesday, the SHL held its annual preseason media day, where all teams gathered to share their thoughts ahead of the new season. Bäckström said the injury that kept him out in Washington is now behind him and that nothing physical is holding him back. He has already seen action in both preseason games and the Champions Hockey League with Brynäs.
“I’ve played a few games in the Champions Hockey League as well, which have been really useful against good teams. It feels good. Now it’s just about building on that,” said Bäckström at SHL’s annual preseason media day.
Bäckström admits that the switch from the smaller NHL rink to the wider Olympic ice used in Sweden could be a challenge early in the season.
“I’d say it’s a bit of a different system and a bigger ice surface. You almost have to re-learn how you played hockey when you were younger. Those are the kinds of things that take a little time,” he said.
Bäckström continued to reflect on the differences from the style of play in the NHL.
“In the NHL the game is more straightforward, with less space of course. Here (in Sweden) you have a little more time and a little more skating as well.”
Brynäs is a club well known for producing NHL talent. That reputation has also had the upside of several former NHL players returning home. Among them are former Anaheim forward Jakob Silfverberg and ex-Buffalo center Johan Larsson, who is also back with the club.
Bäckström’s club Brynäs have had a dramatic couple of years. Two seasons ago, the team was relegated to the second division, HockeyAllsvenskan. After winning the league, Brynäs earned promotion back to the SHL for the 2024–25 season. Their first year back was nearly a fairytale, as Brynäs won the regular season but fell short in the SHL final. Through the team’s rollercoaster journey, the fans always showed their support, something Bäckström said was valuable in his decision to return to the club.
“If you look at Brynäs’ journey over the past two years, when they were relegated and then came back, they’ve built something really strong. It feels like the whole city, not just the players, is on board. There’s a positive energy in both the city and the team. That was a big reason why I decided to sign again,” said Bäckström at the league’s media day in Stockholm.