ARLINGTON — Washington Capitals common supervisor Brian MacLellan mentioned it’s unlikely Nicklas Backstrom performs once more this season after the Swedish middle stepped away from the crew final week, citing the continuing points along with his surgically repaired left hip.
MacLellan stopped in need of ruling Backstrom out for the rest of the season or saying the franchise cornerstone had performed his last NHL recreation. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is predicted to go on long-term injured reserve within the close to future.
“It’s emotional for everybody. He’s been such a big part of the organization,” MacLellan mentioned Monday. “It’s a tough situation, and eventually everybody’s got to move on.”
Backstrom is the Capitals‘ second-longest-tenured participant behind captain Alex Ovechkin, and his 762 profession assists within the common season are essentially the most in franchise historical past. After arthroscopic surgical procedure on the hip in 2015, he had the extra invasive operation in the summertime of 2022 and insisted in the beginning of coaching camp he was absolutely wholesome and able to play.
He had only one level in eight video games this season, was taken off the highest power-play unit and had his ice time drastically diminished. It seemed in observe like he was a candidate to be a wholesome scratch earlier than the choice was made to take a go away of absence.
“You watch his progression here over the last two-plus years: playing hurt, numerous recovery attempts to get it better, then the hip resurfacing,” MacLellan mentioned. “It’s been a long process that has been hard on him mentally and emotionally. It’s been hard to see him go through all that stuff.”
Washington is relying on 22-year-old Connor McMichael to shift to middle in Backstrom‘s absence and for others to step up.
“I don’t think I’m going to be the guy that’s going to be able to just replace Nicklas Backstrom,” McMichael mentioned. “I think it’s calling out the whole team that everybody needs to step up and bring a little extra, and hopefully that can fill that void.”
Fellow Swede Rasmus Sandin mentioned Backstrom helped make him really feel snug since being traded from Toronto in late February, and he brings as a lot within the locker room as on the ice.
“It’s a hole that is tough to fill,” Sandin mentioned. “But he’s got to do what he’s got to do, and we completely understand that.”
MacLellan mentioned the event with Backstrom has not modified his plan: The Capitals because the offseason have been on the lookout for a younger ahead to play of their high six.
Beyond McMichael, reinforcements might quickly be coming from inside the group. Injured middle Nic Dowd and defenseman Joel Edmundson may resume working towards by the tip of the week, and veteran winger Max Pacioretty has began skating on his personal in an try to come back again from re-tearing his proper Achilles tendon.
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