The Washington Capitals have announced that star center Nicklas Backstrom will be taking a leave of absence due to a hip injury. Backstrom, who has been a key part of the Capitals’ success over the past decade, has been dealing with the injury for some time and it has been determined that he needs to take some time off to rest and recover.
Backstrom has been a crucial part of the Capitals’ offense since he was drafted in 2006. He has been a consistent point producer, racking up over 600 points in his career. He has also been a leader in the locker room, providing veteran leadership to the younger players.
The injury is a major blow to the Capitals, who are currently in the middle of a tight playoff race. Backstrom’s absence will be felt on both ends of the ice, as he is an excellent two-way player. His absence will also create a void in the locker room, as he is one of the team’s most respected players.
The Capitals have not yet announced how long Backstrom will be out for, but it is likely to be at least a few weeks. In the meantime, the team will need to find ways to fill the void left by Backstrom’s absence. They will need to rely on their depth players to step up and fill the void.
It is always difficult to see a key player go down with an injury, especially one as important as Nicklas Backstrom. The Capitals will need to find ways to make up for his absence and hope that he can return to full health soon.
