For Nicklas Backstrom, his comeback is inspiring and at the right time
When the Washington Capitals announced in June that Nicklas Backstrom underwent hip resurfacing surgery, it was scary and an unknown whether or not number 19 will be back.
The odds weren’t in his favor. Only two out of three players that got it came back to play with one lasting just over 30 games and the other much shorter.
To put things more accurately the last time a player had the same surgery was former Florida Panthers defensemen Ed Jovanovski in April of 2013. He played in 37 games during the 2013-14 season before the Panthers bought out his contract. He then retired in 2015.
Backstrom had been skating on his own earlier in the season. Then he started practicing with his teammates in a non contact jersey before being full go on contact. He said he felt great.
On Wednesday he told reporters:
“It’s no fun sitting out. Rehabbing and back skating sucks, but it’s fun being out there practicing with the guys. It’s a different thing to play out there.”
Backstrom had no setbacks during his recovery and focused primarily on his conditioning and getting up to game speed. He took full contact at practice for the last couple weeks.
Backstrom missed the first 42 games of the season. The all time assist leader for the Caps has recorded 1,011 points with 264 goals and 747 assists in 1,058 career games.
Backstrom ranks second in franchise history in points, games played, power play points (410), and overtime goals (9). He’s also third in plus/minus with plus 111 and fourth in goals, power play goals with 80 and game winning goals with 39.
In addition, Backstrom ranks first in franchise history in playoff assists (76) and playoff overtime goals (4) and second in playoff points (114), playoff goals (38), playoff games played (139) and playoff game winning goals (7).
Backstrom led the Capitals in scoring during the 2021 season with 53 points with 15 goals and 38 assists in 55 games played and recorded 31 points in 47 games last season with six goals and 25 assists.
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It is a welcome sight seeing Backstrom back in the lineup. We wish him well and good luck.