At this time, surgery is not on the table but the Capitals are still unsure when they will get Backstrom back on the ice. With the veteran centre out, Hendrix Lapierre and Connor McMichael have been impressing in training camp and one or both of them could make the team to start the regular season.
Backstrom will miss the start of training camp as he continues to rehab a lingering hip injury that he battled in 2021. The fact that he will miss the start of training camp is not a great sign but he has not been ruled out for the start of the regular season yet.
Backstrom missed Saturday's game vs. the Flyers but will play tonight vs. the Bruins. This game doesn't matter for Washington but they will not give the veteran another night of rest. Since the start of April, Backstrom has two goals with 14 assists (16 points) in 19 games.
Backstrom is in the final year of the 10-year deal that carried a $6.7M AAV cap-hit and gets an extension that carries him through the 2025 season. He is now the 22nd highest-paid player in the NHL heading into 2021. He has nine goals and 26 assists (35 points) in 39 games, putting him on-pace for 17 goals and 49 assists (66 points).
Backstrom missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury but will be back in the lineup on Monday night. Backstrom skated on a line with Alex Ovechkin in Sunday's practice so look for him to skate there vs. the Blue Jackets.
Backstrom has resumed skating with the team but will miss his sixth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. Washington is in Los Angeles tomorrow, so this should leave him questionable for the second half of the back-to-back.
The Capitals are off until Wednesday but head coach Todd Reirden has already ruled Backstrom out. Lars Eller has played well over 20 minutes per game in two games without Backstrom.
Backstrom remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury, so Lars Eller will remain the second-line centre for at least one more game. After Saturday the Capitals are off until Wednesday, so Backstrom has a few days to get back to 100 percent before they face the Panthers.
Backstrom will not be in the lineup when the Capitals take on the Rangers on Wednesday night. This is the first we've heard about an upper-body injury for Backstrom, but Washington is labelling him as day-to-day for now. Lars Eller will likely move up to the second line and Michael Sgarbossa will draw into the lineup to replace Backstrom.
Backstrom missed Tuesday’s game due to an illness but skated in Wednesday’s optional practice and said he’s feeling better and thinks he’ll play on Thursday.
