Washington Capitals center Nicklas Bäckström has decided to step away from the team as he deals with a lingering injury situation, the Capitals announced today.
Bäckström issued a statement on his decision, which reads as follows:
Given my ongoing injury situation, I decided to take some time and step away from the game. This is a difficult decision, but one that I feel is right for my health at this time. I want to thank my teammates, the organization, and fans for their unwavering support throughout this process. I ask for privacy at this time as I determine my next steps and viable options moving forward.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan issued a statement of his own, which reads:
We stand behind Nicklas and will support him throughout this process. We know firsthand how hard he has worked and how determined he is to get back to full health. Our organization stands fully behind him while he takes his leave of absence from the team and takes time to evaluate his current health situation.
Bäckström, 35, had hip resurfacing surgery in June 2022, and it was initially believed that the process could cost him the entirety of the 2022-23 season. That didn’t end up happening, though, as Bäckström managed to return to the Capitals’ lineup and skate in 39 games.
To start this season, there was some belief that the hardest phase of Bäckström’s injury-related troubles was behind him, at least based on the fact that he played so many games in 2022-23. The hope was that he would be able to be a full contributor to the Capitals’ efforts to return to the postseason.
But after eight difficult games in which he managed one assist, Bäckström has made the decision to prioritize his long-term health. That’s a reasonable decision for any player dealing with considerable injury issues, let alone a player who has accomplished as much as Bäckström. 
Bäckström has played over 1,100 games in the NHL, and is Washington’s all-time leader in assists.
For years the partner-in-crime to franchise face Alex Ovechkin, Bäckström is a former All-Star, Selke Trophy vote-getter, and a Stanley Cup champion.
As to where Bäckström’s decision leaves the Capitals, rookie head coach Spencer Carbery likely won’t be able to replace what Bäckström brings both on and off the ice.
That being said, he does have some options to help fill the void now created in their depth chart.
Rookie Hendrix Lapierre, the 22nd overall pick at the 2020 NHL draft, is still finding his footing in pro hockey but offers considerable offensive skill. Assuming Sonny Milano can return to the lineup, that return could shift Connor McMichael back to the center position and place him in Bäckström’s vacated third-line center role.
This unfortunate news does pose one minor silver lining for the Capitals, related to their salary-cap situation. CapFriendly writes that the Capitals are likely to place Bäckström on long-term injured reserve, adding the player’s $9.2MM cap hit to their LTIR salary pool. The result is an increased cap flexibility to not only add players from other teams via trade but also activate currently injured players such as Max Pacioretty or Joel Edmundson.
In any case, this is undoubtedly a difficult development for both the player and team side of the equation. For Bäckström, one cannot underestimate how hard it must be for the veteran pivot to step away from his teammates in order to prioritize his health. For the Capitals, despite the player’s struggles to start the season, Bäckström remains a crucial part of the franchise’s efforts to return to the playoffs.
This is an unfortunate situation for all involved, but regardless of the on-ice implications of this decision the hope has to be that, by stepping away from the game, Bäckström can achieve the improvements to his health that he both desires and deserves.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
That hip resurfacing surgery he tried was a low-percentage, non-guaranteed thing. Wouldn’t be surprising to see him bow out.
@fightcitymayor – I’m afraid you may be right there. I hope it turns out otherwise, but Father Time is always lurking.
@fightcity
It’s doubtful that he’ll “bow out” until after his contract has ended, after the 2024-25 season. He’s owed about $17 million more. Would you give up that kind of money? Especially if all you had to do to get itwas go to doctors’ appointments? I doubt you would.
It’s called LTIR homeboy he can never play again and still get it
Thats a shame. Backstrom is the kind of player that fans respect regardless of which team they root for. Hell of a player in his prime.
Retiring!
No, dear boy, it’s doubtful he’ll retire, at least not right now. He’s owed about $17 million, more or less, so they’ll put him on LTIR, till the end of the 2024-25 season. THEN he’ll retire.
@KRB – Or, he might have his contract traded to one of the few teams who are able to absorb it for future draft picks in the 24th century. :)
@Mac
Yup, but as a Caps fan, I’d hate to do that. That’d mean giving up an asset. The organization is finally headed in the right direction, and with this, unfortunately very sad situation, it opens a spot for a youngster. I believe in quantity of assets. Draft and develop a quantity of good youngsters, create competition. Trading draft picks can end up backfiring. In 2021, the team traded a #1 and #2 to Detroit, for Anthony Mantha, who the team now can’t give away. The #1 pick ended up in Dallas, and became Wyatt Johnston, who scored 25 goals as a 19 year old, and is now their second line center. Ouch!
HOF’er?
Put the Caps down as having a big interest in Calgary’s Lindholm!
Could be, Johnny Z. He and Dylan Strome would make a pretty good 1-2 punch at center. I don’t wanna give up the farm for Lindholm. I’d go Lapierre, and a 2nd rounder. I wouldn’t give up any of the team’s best prospects.
More like: Lapierre, and a 1st rounder(2025) and Mantha and a 3rd rounder
You’re overvaluing Lindholm. He’s only put up near a point a game twice, plus he’s UFA. I would throw in Mantha, sure, but nothing else. Mantha is totally useless, but clearing cap space, and most importantly, a roster spot, works for me.
No, 1st line centers do not come up for trades very often. He will garner a lot for the Flames.
Is he a 1st line center? Seems more like a 2nd line center, to me.
I probably should have written that he’s not worth that much to the Capitals. If Calgary can fetch a legit prospect, a roster player, and a #1 and #3 pick for him, then good for them.
You are dismissing the context of my proposed trade. Mantha is a cap dump and just an exchange of salary. This “roster player” will not fetch much on his own.