Insurance and salary bump kept Backstrom in Sweden

From the moment that Alexander Ovechkin announced that the Washington Capitals' had picked Swedish pivot Nicklas Backstrom as fourth overall in last month's draft – the endeavour of bringing him over for next season immediately begun.

The Washington Capitals, in dire need of offensive talent, would however come up empty in their attempts of luring the 18-year old Swede across the Atlantic. Back home in Sweden, Backstrom is the obvious first line centre in his hometown SEL team Brynas. Staying in Sweden for another year would also mean increased international experience such as the WJC tournament in Sweden, held only an hour's drive away from Backstrom's home.

With the home team advantage and Nicklas Backstrom in the line up, Sweden is a strong medal contender in a tournament that has left the Swedes missing out on a medal for a decade.

"Anyway you look at it, he's got two great options and whatever he chooses, is going to be good for his development", commented Backstrom's agent Gunnar Svensson, prior to his client's decision was announced.

Brynas of course took the opportunity of sweetening the deal for Backstrom as well. First the club signed the Slovakian winger and former New Jersey Devil Jiri Bicek for the purpose of riding shotgun with Backstrom in Brynas top line and then they got on to improve the actual contract terms. Aside from giving him a significant salary bump up the level of the other first line centres in the league, Brynas also made sure Backstrom got an advantageous insurance deal. The insurance policy clicks in if the young playmaker suffers a serious injury during the upcoming season, which would prevent him from future play in the NHL.

"I'm very comfortable with the decision and the agreement we managed to reach. I believe this is the right choice for me", said Backstrom.

Staying an additional year in Sweden and turning down NHL clubs, puts Backstrom in the same category as Swedes such as Peter Forsberg, Henrik Zetterberg, the Sedin twins and Mattias Ohlund. All of those current NHL stars, chose to remain in the SEL for one more season than they really 'had' to and all of them benefited from it in terms of development, as they came in to the NHL much more ready, mentally and physically, and with one more season of pro experience under their belt.

Rahimi the opposite of Backstrom

Going the exact opposite route of Nicklas Backstrom, is Bjorkloven's 19-year old rearguard Daniel Rahimi. The Vancouver Canucks in this year's draft picked Rahimi, virtually an unknown before about half away through last season, in the third round. Just minutes before the deadline for signing drafted players out of Europe, Rahimi put his signature on an NHL contract, despite having only one season in the Swedish top junior league and six games in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's second men's league, worth of experience. Next stop is the Vancouver Canucks' training camp, where he suddenly will find himself battling it out with the likes of Sami Salo and Mattias Ohlund.

"It's a childhood dream of course. It feels incredibly great to have the deal done", said Rahimi who became the first Bjorkloven player since Calle Johansson and Ulf Dahlen back in 1987 to sign an NHL contract.

Whether or not he will enjoy the same type of long-term successes as those two, yet remains to be seen, for what still is quite a raw and project like defenseman, in the need of seasoning in the AHL.