Due to issues with his surgically repaired left hip, Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom likely won't return this season, general manager Brian MacLellan said Monday.
Backstrom, 35, hasn't been ruled out for the season, but he is expected to go on long-term injured reserve soon. Last week, Backstrom took a leave of absence after it appeared he would be a healthy scratch.
"It's emotional for everybody. He's been such a big part of the organization," MacLellan said Monday. "It's a tough situation, and eventually everybody's got to move on."
A franchise cornerstone along with captain Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom trails only Ovechkin in terms of tenure and ranks first in team history with 762 assists. In 17 seasons with the Capitals, the No. 4 pick in the 2006 draft also has 271 goals over 1,105 games. He ranks second in franchise history with 1,033 points.
Backstrom, who had arthroscopic surgery on his hip in 2015, declared he was fully healthy at the start of camp following the summer of 2022's more invasive hip procedure.
In eight games this season, Backstrom was taken off the top power-play unit and produced just one point while seeing his ice time reduced significantly.
"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 said. "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."
Backstrom has two seasons left on a five-year, $46 million deal he signed in January of 2020.
As for who will replace Backstrom, the Caps are turning to Connor McMichael to shift from wing to center and expect others to step up their game.
"I don't think I'm going to be the guy that's going to be able to just replace Nicklas Backstrom," McMichael said. "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."
In other injury news, Capitals center Nic Dowd and defenseman Joel Edmundson are closer to returning as both could return to practice later this week.
Veteran winger Max Pacioretty, who tore his right Achilles tendon for a second time in January, is skating on his own as the six-time 30-goal scorer attempts a comeback.
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