Braden Holtby: Nicky Gnome... we actually have you on our front doorstep, still. My son won’t let you leave. You’re a big part of our family and you always will be.
Brooks Orpik: I don’t know what I’d say to this guy. (chuckles)
John Carlson: Hey buddy. Thanks for passing it to me so much. Wouldn’t be where I am today without all those great passes. Thanks again, buddy. It’s almost gnome time on the front lawn, so. Good to see you.
Capitals Praise Nicklas Backstrom Before 600-Assist Ceremony at Capital One Arena; In honor of Backstrom's 600th assist, teammates spoke about him as a player and person
Alex Ovechkin: "It's been a pleasure for me to play with a player like him. I always appreciate him. Everyone knows his skills as a player, but I've seen him grow up as a person. We finally reached our goal in getting a Cup, but 600 … that's a pretty big number."
Braden Holtby: "He's who you think of when you think about the elite hockey player. Good leader, quiet, humble, shows up every night. He's still underrated [publicly] but we know his elite skill. Defensively, he's always one of our best players. Offensively, he's phenomenal - 600 assists. He's just one of those guys you tell kids to be like."
Evgeny Kuznetsov: "He's an unbelievable guy. He's not going to teach you a lot with words, but I don't think he has to, because you can just follow him on the ice, follow him off the ice, see what he's done and learn from that."
T.J. Oshie: "His on ice stuff speaks for itself, but behind the scenes, what you don't see, is how good of a guy he is and how much he cares about his teammates. To never see a guy come to the bench and smack a stick against the board, or to never tell a teammate to play better, is pretty amazing. He's about as level-headed and calm as you'll find. It's been an honor to step in here and play on his line the last few years."
Brett Connolly: "It's really refreshing to see a guy who's had so much success be so humble. He's just a really good guy, who's been really good to me the past two and a half years I've been here. Obviously an amazing player, arguably the best passer. He's never rushing, just plays his own way, letting teams play at his pace. [600 assists is] an amazing accomplishment."
Devante Smith-Pelly: “You never know what to expect with superstars. You finally meet them and they're maybe not how you expect them to be, but he's been amazing since I came here. He's one of the leaders and welcomed me with open arms. We've grown to be close friends and I can't say enough good things about him, as a player and as a person."
Matt Niskanen: "From the outside you notice his passing ability. But I didn't realize how smart of a player - how complete of a player - he was until I got here. He's always in the right position, just has a great feel for the game. Obviously a lot of offensive touch, but his defensive awareness is definitely an underrated part of his game."
Madison Bowey: "When I was younger, every time I watched a Capitals game it was Alex Ovechkin from Nicklas Backstrom, or vice versa. Watching him [up close] has been amazing, but also off the ice and how he handles himself as a true pro. He's so focused and determined to come to the rink. There's not much to improve for him, but he finds a way every day to work on something to get better."
Chandler Stephenson: "I remember ever since my first camp here, he was one of the first guys to say hello. He's always welcoming of young and new guys, treating them with nothing but the most respect. If you didn't know who he was, I don't think anybody would know that he's a hockey player, an All Star, a Hall of Famer. That says a lot about who he is. This is a huge achievement for him and his family and I'm looking forward to it."
The Meanest of Larses is also the most Loved of Larses.
Rob Carlin went on a serious tear in the post-game live where he called Backstrom and Ovechkin the perfect marriage at least three times (much to Brent Johnson’s giggling) and honestly, no one ships it harder than Carlin, I swear.
Hey Nick. Congrats with your 600 assists, it’s a huge honor for you, for your family. It’s nice to be out there with you. Keep it going, and good luck, my man.
