Nicklas Backstrom (photo: Instagram/Washington Capitals)
The Washington Capitals team announced on Wednesday that veteran forward Nicklas Bäckström will take an indefinite leave of absence from hockey due to health reasons.
The 35-year-old Swede recorded one assist in the first eight games of the season. In the last one, he only started in January because of the hip joint surgery he underwent before it. He scored seven goals and 14 assists in 39 matches.
“Due to my injury situation, I have decided to take some time off from playing. This is a difficult decision, but one that I feel is right for my health,” declared Bäckström.
“I want to thank my teammates, the organization and the fans for their unwavering support throughout this process. At this time, I request privacy while I decide on my next steps and viable options for non-promotion.”
Bäckström has a valid contract with a cap-hit of 9.2 million US dollars until the end of next season.
2023-11-01 20:03:22
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