From stlouisblues.com;
St. Louis, MO, July 12, 2002 - Senior Vice President and General
Manager Larry Pleau announced today that the club has signed
defenseman Christian Backman. As per club policy, terms of the deal
were not disclosed.

Backman, 22, skated in 44 contests with Vastra Frolunda HC of the
Swedish Elite League. He set career-high in points (11), goals
(seven) and penalty minutes (38). Backman's seven goals tied him for
third on the club, while tying for seventh on the team with 11 points
and tying for fourth on the team in penalty minutes.

The 6-4, 198-pound defenseman from Alingsas, Sweden has appeared in
170 career games with Vastra Frolunda HC. He has skated in 170 career
contests, tallying 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) along with 88
penalty minutes. Backman was St. Louis' first round selection, 24th
overall, in the 1998 Entry Draft.