The Washington Capitals announced today they have signed Nicklas Backstrom to a ten-year deal, $67 million contract extension.  The extension will keep the Swedish-born center under contract until he is 32 years old.

In 2009, Backstrom, 22, had a career-high 101 points (33 goals, 68 assists) and a plus-37 rating in 82 regular-season games this season, his third in the NHL.

The Capitals now have the top-scoring teammates in the NHL this season, Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin (210 combined points), under contract for the next 10 and 11 seasons, respectively.

General Manager George McPhee also announced the team signed their 2009 first round draft pick, Marcus Johansson, to a three-year entry-level deal.

From the press release: 

Johansson, 19, is a 5’11”, 189-pound native of Landskrona, Sweden, who recently finished his second season with Farjestads of the Swedish Elite League (SEL), the top professional league in Sweden.

He recorded 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 42 games this season in the SEL, finishing tied for fourth on the team in goals and sixth in points. Johansson also made his second appearance for Team Sweden in the World Junior Championship. He had six points (one goal, five assists) and a +7 rating in five games and, as Sweden’s captain, led the team to the bronze medal.

Coach Bruce Boudreau commented that the Caps now have “two of the top five players in the league” under contract for their peak seasons, and that todays' announcements will help the Caps achieve their goal of becoming Stanley Cup champions.

According to the Washington Capitals official website, the Caps will be holding a press conference at 10:30 am Monday morning to make a "significant player-related announcement."

Watch it live here.

According to Capitals Insider, the presser is to announce the signing of Nicklas Backstrom to a multi-year contract extension: 

The Caps are expected to announce tomorrow morning that they have re-signed Nicklas Backstrom to a long-term extension, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

I'm still working to get the particulars of the deal -- team officials are not answering their phones -- but Backstrom's salary is expected to be in the high $6 million per year range, I'm told.

ESPN.com's Pierre Lebrun reports the same:  

The Washington Capitals are set to announce a contract extension for star center Nicklas Backstrom, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com.

This development, despite being a huge hit on the Captials salary cap, will tie the team's two best players, Backstom and Alex Ovechkin, together through their peak years for the Washington Capitals, giving them a dynamic first-line pairing for the forseeable future.

Backstrom, 22, had a career-high 101 points (33 goals, 68 assists) and a plus-37 rating in 82 regular-season games this season, his third in the NHL.