We have an update on Nicklas Backstrom, and unfortunately, it’s more of the same.
Nicklas Backstrom said his injured left hip is improving, but the center hasn’t resumed skating yet and could miss the Capitals’ regular-season opener against the Rangers on Oct. 13.https://t.co/rtQtRSkk4Z
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) October 2, 2021
A Slight Update on Nicklas Backstrom
Normally when you hear the phrase “no news is good news” it’s because things are going well. When we previously reported the Washington Capitals long-time number-one centre’s health status, though, it was listed as week-to-week. A week later, it’s the same, and that’s not great.
Hip on Ice, Off Ice
The old injury – he had surgery on the same him in 2015 – was bothering him at the end of last season. The hope was that simply resting the hip over the off-season would be enough to get it back into shape with minimal time off. That hasn’t panned out, as his continued absence shows.
There’s always a decision to make over injuries for professional athletes. Surgery is invasive and damaging, even as they undergo repairs. If a condition is chronic, there’s no guarantee how long a surgical fix will last. Or it may repair a nagging injury to such a degree that the player never feels that pain again. But recovery time is always needed, and the decision to cut or not to cut isn’t always an easy one. This time, the 33-year old decided to try rest. With the regular season just around the corner, that’s rapidly become the only option.
Winning Now
Much like the Pittsburgh Penguins with their stars, as long as Washington has Alexander Ovechkin they are going to try to win the Stanley Cup. That’s led to a heavy reliance on veterans, and it could be an issue – at least for this month. Behind Backstrom, the Capitals are relying on T.J. Oshie, Lars Eller, Nic Dowd, and the enigmatic Evgeny Kuznetsov.
While Connor McMichael is a talented young man, it’s unlikely he’ll play beside Ovechkin this season. So of the remaining centres, the most skilled is Kuznetsov. The same Kuznetsov who was the centre of rumours pretty much from the moment the season ended until mid-September. He has been the centre of attention with off-ice antics over the past few years, including a four-year suspension from international play for failing drug tests and suspension from the Capitals for “inappropriate conduct” in 2019.
Kuznetsov also broke COVID-19 protocol with Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov, and Ilya Samsonov, getting him and Samsonov suspension from the team. Between the off-ice antics and his diminishing numbers – down to nine goals and 29 points in 41 games last season – it’s no surprise he was on the block. Add in a $7.8 million cap hit until 2025-26, a 15-team no-trade list, and no suitable replacement, and it’s clear why he wasn’t moved.
Tough Crowd, Tough Crowd
So this is what the Capitals are left with. Even if Backstrom made an immediate return to the ice, he is well behind his teammates. The season starts on October 13th, and he remains listed as week-to-week. He is going to miss some of the season. The question is, how much? The East is looking like a monster to get out of, and losing any ground, even in October, early can cost them the playoffs.
By the time Nicklas Backstrom returns to the S.S. Washington Capitals, it might be for a salvage mission.
Main Photo:Embed from Getty Images
