The Washington Capitals are not a very good team on paper but they have had an admirable start this year. They play hard as you’d expect from Washington and they deserve respect.
However, some news dropped on Wednesday that is not fun. The Caps and Nicklas Backstrom revealed an update on his health that is a bit sad. He is stepping away from the Capitals due to these health reasons.
Backstrom had hip surgery back in July and now we are a few weeks into the new year so it seems like it is lingering. So far this season, Backstrom has played in eight games. He hasn’t scored a goal and only has one assist.
That is obviously not the production you have come to expect from Backstrom in his career. He doesn’t need to be himself in his prime considering he is now 35 years old but having one point in eight games is not him. Clearly, he has lost a step with this injury.
The Washington Capitals and Nicklas Backstrom provide an update on Backstrom’s health status.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 1, 2023
Full release: https://t.co/cnyOHoqFxt pic.twitter.com/OXA7n1Dsqu
The Washington Capitals and Nicklas Backstrom have had some great moments.
In his career so far, Backstrom has 271 goals and 762 assists for 1033 points in 1105 games. He is one of the best playmakers of his generation. He gets a lot of credit for the goal-scoring success that Alexander Ovechkin has had in his career. They were a dynamic duo for a long time.
Backstrom has only scored 30 goals one time in his NHL career. He has always had more than double the amount of assists though which is why he is considered to be an all-time great passer of the puck.
Now that he is taking this leave of absence, the Capitals are fully behind him. His health is coming first as it should. He has given his all to the Capitals since they made him the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.
When the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, a lot was made about Ovechkin finally winning it. However, even Ovechkin made it clear how important it was for Nicky to get one as well. Them two skating the Cup around is an all-time great NHL moment.
Hopefully, whether he resumes playing or not, Nicklas Backstrom will find his way back to feeling good at full health. If this is the end of his playing career, it will be celebrated more. If it isn’t, we will look forward to watching more.