Washington Capitals legend Nicklas Backstrom isn’t retiring, but his NHL days are likely over.
The 37-year-old signed with the Swedish club Brynas IF on Monday morning after 17 seasons with the Capitals.
Backstrom was on Washington’s roster last season, but a hip injury kept him out of every game. He last appeared in an NHL game in the fall of 2023, stepping away from the team to deal with the nagging issue.
Nearly two years later, Backstrom officially became a free agent on July 1.
“One of the best to ever lace ’em up for the Capitals and a pillar of our team and our community,” Capitals owner Ted Leonsis wrote on X. “Brynas just got a whole bunch of new fans here in Washington, DC.”
The Swedish-born center ends his Capitals career with the most assists in team history. He also ranks second in points and games and fourth in goals.
“Nick was a foundational cornerstone for the most successful period in team history, culminating with him lifting the Stanley Cup with his teammates in 2018,” the Capitals said in a statement. “Nick gave everything he had each and every day while playing over 1,000 NHL games in a Capitals sweater, leaving an immeasurable impact on the team, the city and the community.”
Backstrom is the second Capitals legend to officially leave the team this offseason. Forward T.J. Oshie officially announced his retirement in June after missing the entirety of last season with a nagging back injury.
There are now just three Capitals remaining from the 2018 champion team: Ovechkin, forward Tom Wilson and defenseman John Carlson.
Though he didn’t take the ice, Backstrom wasn’t far from the Capitals last season. He was on hand to watch longtime teammate Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April.
“Very special,” Backstrom told NHL.com. “Very special, emotional, but I didn’t get emotional until I saw Ovi’s wife, actually. It was really special.”
Having the longtime teammate on hand was enough to make the “Russian Machine” emotional.
No player dished more assists to Capitals captain and NHL goals record holder Alex Ovechkin. Backstrom recorded 279 assists on Ovechkin goals, more than 100 more than the next closest player.
“As soon as I saw Nicky, I just wanted to cry,” Ovechkin said after setting the record with his 896th goal. “And we hold [each other]. He was such a big part of my success, and we’ve grown up together. … I tell him, ’Without you, I would never reach that milestone.’”
Now, Backstrom is going home. He grew up in Sweden and started his career with Brynas IF, representing the club’s junior and senior squads from 2002 through 2007.
“I have always felt that I would like to represent Brynäs again someday if the opportunity arose,” Bäckström said in a release. “I have long had a great drive to return to Brynäs. After undergoing rehab and being away from the game for almost two seasons, I feel very charged and full of energy to contribute to the club’s future successes.”
Backstrom was in limbo for nearly two years while he recovered from his hip injury — technically under contract but away from the locker room for long stretches. His move to Sweden is only the latest change in a Capitals team that is charging toward the future.
“It’s hard, but it’s hockey and it’s a business,” Ovechkin, whose contract expires next summer, said in May. “Everything that happen with Backy, with [T.J. Oshie], with me, is going to stay forever. For this organization, they did so many great things, the Cup, obviously, the things on the ice and off the ice. They’re legends and it’s a tough moment, but it’s life.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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