FILE - Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom skates during an opening night NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Oct. 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Longtime Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is resuming his hockey career with Brynas IF in Sweden
GAVLE, Sweden (AP) — Nicklas Backstrom is resuming his hockey career back in his native Sweden with Brynas IF after missing all of last NHL season because of a nagging hip injury.
FILE - Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom skates during an opening night NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Oct. 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
GAVLE, Sweden (AP) — Nicklas Backstrom is resuming his hockey career back in his native Sweden with Brynas IF after missing all of last NHL season because of a nagging hip injury.
The Swedish club announced Monday that Backstrom was signing there to play this coming season. The 37-year-old center’s NHL contract with the Washington Capitals expired this summer.
“I have always felt that I would like to represent Brynas again someday if the opportunity arose,†Backstrom said in a statement about rejoining the organization where he started. “After undergoing rehab and being away from the game for almost two seasons, I feel very charged and full of energy to contribute to the club’s future successes.â€
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Backstrom in June 2022, hoping to address a chronic issue, and by training camp in September 2023 “way better.†He last played in a competitive, meaningful game on Oct. 29, 2023, saying on Nov. 1 he was because of what the team called an “ongoing injury situation.â€
Before that, Backstrom skated in more than 1,200 games with the Capitals, recording more than 1,100 points, and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2018. The Capitals in a statement thanked Backstrom and wished him luck in the future, saying he “gave everything he had each and every day.â€
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