Timeline Stays Unsure for Nicklas Backstrom’s Return From Hip Surgical procedure – NBC4 Washington

Timeline for Backstrom’s return from hip surgical procedure stays unsure initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Washington

Capitals heart Nicklas Backstrom intends to play sooner or later within the 2022-23 season after present process left hip surgical procedure on June 17 however a timeline stays unsure, based on Washington basic supervisor Brian MacLellan. 

Talking to reporters from Montreal forward of Thursday’s NHL Draft, MacLellan addressed that uncertainty surrounding a franchise staple. Backstrom, 34, underwent resurfacing surgical procedure on his left hip, a process with a difficult, prolonged restoration course of. 

“It is a exhausting surgical procedure,” MacLellan mentioned. “Till we see midway into his restoration what mobility, energy he is gotten again from it. It is powerful to mission for anyone how he reacts and the way he comes out of the surgical procedure. We will wait and see the place he is at, how he is feeling, how he is progressing.”

Associated: How Capitals can deal with Backstrom’s absence at heart

Backstrom underwent the process in Belgium. He beforehand had hip surgical procedure in 2015 and persistent ache led to him lacking the primary 28 video games of the 2021-22 season. Backstrom returned to play 47 video games final season with six targets and 25 assists. However he advised reporters on the finish of the season that the hip will probably by no means be 100% once more and MacLellan described Backstrom enjoying by that degree of ache he endured this season as unsustainable.

The issue for the Capitals? Backstrom’s $9.2 million salary-cap hit is prohibitive — the second-highest on the staff — and if he intends to return they will’t use his cash to go after big-money free brokers this summer time. NHL free company opens on July 13. Washington may also begin the season with out right-wing Tom Wilson, who had ACL surgical procedure Could 25 and is out six-to-eight months. 

The Capitals must configure a lineup with out two of their top-six forwards in a aggressive Metropolitan Division the place they completed fourth final season. By the tim e they’ve extra readability, after all, they are going to be effectively into subsequent season. Backstrom and Wilson will begin the yr on long-term injured reserve so there can be cap flexibility then, however that limits what the entrance workplace can do for now. 

Inner options, together with 2019 first-round draft decide Connor McMichael, who performed 68 video games for Washington in his age 20-21 season, and 2020 first-round draft decide Hendrix Lapierre, who performed six NHL video games at age 19 final season earlier than returning to his junior hockey staff in Quebec, are inside choices. So is Aliaksei Protas, a 2019 third-round decide who performed 33 video games for the Caps final season as a rookie and spent a lot of the yr with AHL affiliate Hershey. 

“The wage cap is the wage cap. We have now to plan for Nick coming again sooner or later, use that area. His wage,” MacLellan mentioned. “What we will do is we may give alternatives to our younger guys. McMichael we hope to get to the subsequent step, Lapierre we’ll see the place he is at, Protas is coming in. We anticipate him to take a pleasant bounce. And form of look from there. It isn’t like we will exit and signal a $9 million participant. We’re anticipating Nick comes again sooner or later. Till that goes away we’re planning on him coming again.”