Nicklas Backstrom Final 2023-24 Report Card

The Washington Capitals could be preparing for life without certain star players. One of those who could be on the block of LTIR or IR is Nicklas Backstrom after yesterday's news of the Capitals purchasing CapFriendly.

Some further insight from Friedman said the following via Sammi Silber of The Hockey News:

"The NHL frowns on the existence of sites like this one, even though they should be doing it themselves. They consider it propriety information so the Caps couldn't keep it open even if they wanted to."

Friedman also noted that, "the league would say you cannot be a partner to this and have it be public, and also, you couldn't make any money from it on any ads. So once the Capitals purchased it, it was coming down."

More controversy surrounding Backstrom

Silber also noted an interview the Swede recently did that she translated to English where Backstrom said there isn't truth to the reports that he is not really injured.

According to Radiosporten Hockey, a show on Sverige Radio, was the one that claimed that Backstrom wasn't really hurt but instead there was a rift between the center and first year head coach Spencer Carbery. The false report had Backstrom describing him not playing due to a "big schism" between player and first year coach Spencer Carbery.

Backstrom told Swedish publication Aftonbladet, "that's not true. There's no truth in that."

Backstrom appeared in eight games this season, recording one assist before choosing to take a leave of absense with his hip not responding the way the center hoped it would following his surgery in late June of 2022. He asked for privacy at the time.

Grade C

Whether or not Backstrom plays next season remains to be seen and we're not going to say that he is or that he isn't. We will say that it was an average grade for a 36 year old who turns 37 this upcoming November.