Nicklas Backstrom's Medical Leave: A Challenge For The Capitals

Yesterday, The Capitals suffered a huge blow to their roster. Center Nicklas Backstrom announced that he will be taking a medical leave due to a failed hip resurfacing. Backstrom leaves a month into the season with the Washington Capitals, who are currently 6th in the Metropolitan division. The date of return,, Backstrom announced, is indefinite.

Backstrom had been having issues with his hip since the 2022-2023 season. After receiving surgery after the end of the 2021-2022 season, Backstrom returned to Capital One in January 2023. In his short time back, Backstrom added six goals, but injury issues persisted and have caught up to him. With a current average of (4-4-1), Backstrom gave one goal before his sudden announcement. 

Drafted in 2006, Backstrom has been vital to the Capitals. A core center with a Stanley Cup under his belt, Backstrom is considered to be one of the greatest players in franchise history. Both he and left winger Alexander Ovechkin have not only the most played games and goals. As of November 2023, Backstrom has played 1,105 games and scored 1,003 goals. 

So, what does this mean for Backstrom moving forward?

Backstrom has two options on his plate. Option A is to get another hip resurfacing surgery, hope for it to be successful, undergo more physical therapy., and then hopefully come back in early 2024. Option B is to walk away from the team entirely, which would likely lead to the end of his career 

Option A, albeit, is a reach as at the ripe age of 35, Backstrom is in the twilight of his career and unlikely to fully recover. Hopefully, his surgery is successful, and he can come with less pain than he did before; however, this is wishful thinking at best.

On the other hand, Option B is, unfortunately, the most realistic. A medical leave of absence is the same as retirement, especially for a player of Backstrom’s age. Injury is never a good sign, especially when it triggers a second retirement. The chances of Backstrom returning are slim. Despite this, there is also a bright side. Backstrom has remained with the Capitals for nearly twenty years and has found mass success. Backstrom would retire with a Stanley Cup and over 1,000 points under his belt. The average retirement age in Hockey is the early thirties. Pittsburgh Penguins Center Sidney Crosby and Edmonton Oilers Goalie Mike Smith are far past their prime and still playing, but that doesn’t mean there is no risk of injury. 

With Backstrom’s retirement looming and his injury situation unclear. the future of the Capitals’ core is looking shaky. But if Backstrom were to retire, he would retire as an accomplished NHL player, especially for the Washington Capitals. 

Backstrom’s eventual retirement would also raise questions for the team. Potential replacements for the center, such as Dylan Strome and Hendrix Lapierre, ring some bells. While they are great players, the question lingers of whether they will bring the same energy that Backstrom has brought in his nearly two-decade trek with the Washington Capitals. 

Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 over the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Capitals have struggled. From being eliminated in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup to not even making it to the 2023 Stanley Cup, the team continues to struggle. Their most recent game against the New York Islanders ended 3-0. Not even ten games in, and it appears that it’s going to be a long winter for the Washington Capitals and Nicklas Backstrom. 

The Washington Capitals will play at the Capital One Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets this Saturday at 7pm.