Yesterday Washington Capital fans were treated to a great surprise as star centre Nicklas Backstrom was signed to a 10 year $67 million contract extension, becoming the second richest player on the team to star winger Alexander Ovechkin. Capitals fans for a minimum of 21 years have two of the best players in the league locked up. Wagers should place a bet online today predicting when defenseman Mike Green and goaltender Seymon Varlamov will be signed to large contracts as well.

When it comes to NHL betting for a team such as the Washington Capitals many fans have become confused, as they have become the San Jose Sharks of the Eastern Conference. That is to say, with such a young highly talented roster that dominates the regular season the way the Capitals do, fans should expect them to carry over the regular season success into the playoffs. Similar to the Sharks out West prior to this year however, (Sharks are in the Western Conference final for the first time since 2003) the Capitals have yet to transfer their success into a long playoff run and Stanley Cup. With Ovechkin and now Backstrom locked up for the next two decades, Capital fans have every right to expect long playoff runs and multiple titles, but with such early era woes was signing Backstrom a 100 point man in his own right the correct move to make? Backstrom has proven that he can play without Ovechkin and still put up at least 90 points, and one must wonder if Backstrom will want to be Ovechkin's bridesmaid for the next 10 years as Ovechkin is both the captain of the Capitals and reigning MVP.