The Washington Capitals haven't had the most excellent start to the 2023-24 season but have looked better of late, winning three straight games and will look to make it four in a row on Thursday night.
Coming into the season, there was a lot of attention on longtime Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom, returning for his 17th season in the National Hockey League.
But eight games into his 17th season, the Gavle, Sweden native, is deciding to step away from hockey for an indefinite period given his current injury situation.
Backstrom, 35, underwent hip resurfacing surgery in June 2022, and it appears that he's still dealing with issues relating to that injury. The 2006 fourth-overall pick is arguably one of the greatest players in Washington Capitals franchise history,. In 1,105 games with them, he's put up 1,033 points (271 goals, 762 assists) and helped them to their only Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
