Underrated Backman Quietly Making His NHL Case
Follow
Mattias Backman isn’t getting the same fanfare as other Detroit prospects, but it’s not because he’s underperforming. The 6-foot-2, 176 pound defenseman has an assist and is a plus-1 through two NHL prospect tournament games for the Red Wings.
“I feel comfortable out there,” Backman said. “The rink size here is smaller, but I am learning every day. That is why I am here.”
This isn’t Backman’s first North American experience after he came over at the end of last season to finish the year with Grand Rapids of the AHL. The Linkoping, Sweden native played in 12 games for the Griffins – including 10 playoff games where he notched a goal and six points.
“He came over during the playoffs and I thought he did a real good job jumping in,” Griffins Head Coach Jeff Blashill said. “Everything was new to him so he had a lot to gather, in a real important time of the year.”
Despite the fact that Backman was drafted in 2011 and performed at a very high level in Sweden the past two seasons, there isn’t much talk about his ability to make an NHL impact. He’ll have plenty of competition in Ryan Sproul, Alexey Marchenko, and Xavier Ouellet among others, but his skating, hockey smarts and puck possession game make him a potential call-up candidate.
“He’s another guy who has a chance to make Detroit with a great camp,” Blashill said. “He’s a great skater and he’s real good on the power play and the defensive zone and now it’s just about executing at a high level. With a good prospects tournament he has a real good chance to get a jump on guys who aren’t here.”
There is a lot to like about Backman’s game from his mobility and vision to his fluid skating. There is concerns that his extremely slender build won’t stand up to the rigors of North American hockey.
“It’s hard for me to go up in weight,” Backman said. “I’ve been training and eating a lot, but my mom and dad are the same body type. I am working hard to add muscle, but it isn’t easy.”
Backman, who was credited for just four hits last season with Linkoping, doesn’t have much of a physical edge to his game. That said his smart two-way style of play helped him lead the entire Swedish Hockey League in plus-minus with a plus-26.
“I am not a physical guy, but I was comfortable in Grand Rapids last year,” he said. “I played in the top league in Sweden and I learned how to play against bigger guys. I just try and play smart hockey.”