‘He made a decision and that’s the way he’s going out.’

The Washington Capitals made a surprising announcement over two weeks ago, revealing that star center Nicklas Backstrom would be taking a leave of absence from the team.

Recently, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan indicated that Backstrom is unlikely to return this season and has been placed on long-term injured reserve, suggesting that his NHL career may be coming to an end.

In a recent appearance on Jeff Marek’s weekly podcast show, MacLellan hinted at this possibility, expressing his belief that Backstrom’s career may be over due to ongoing issues with his surgically repaired hip.

Backstrom, a 2006 first-round draft pick and Stanley Cup champion, has struggled with his hip for the past three seasons, resulting in inconsistent playing time. MacLellan acknowledged the challenges Backstrom faced in managing the injury and the difficulty in making the decision to step away from the game.

Despite signing a five-year contract extension in 2020, Backstrom’s injury may prevent fans from seeing him play alongside longtime teammate Alex Ovechkin for the remainder of his career.

After playing only a limited portion of the 2022-23 season following his surgery, Backstrom’s performance failed to meet expectations in the early part of the 2023-24 season, ultimately leading to his decision to step away from the game.

While Backstrom has yet to publicly address his decision, he has asked for privacy as he weighs his next steps and options for the future.

Headline photo: Alan Dobbins/RMNB