Capitals' Backstrom eyes return for season opener

By foxsports
Published

Nicklas Backstrom remains optimistic that he will be on the ice when the Washington Capitals open the 2015-16 season.

"We will just have to wait and see how things go exactly," the 27-year-old center told Swedish radio station Sverigesradio as he recovers from arthroscopic hip surgery. "But of course I'm hoping that I will be ready for the start of the season."

Backstorm underwent the surgery on May 27, shortly after Washington was upended by the New York Rangers in seven games during the second round of the playoffs. The recovery time is expected to be approximately five months, with the full term sidelining Backstrom to middle-to-late October.

"Based on the nature of this procedure, we are confident that Nick will be completely healthy prior to the start of the 2015-16 regular season," the Capitals said in a statement.

Backstrom collected 18 goals and a league-best 60 assists last season while playing in all 82 games for the fifth time in his eight-year career. The Swede, who is Washington's franchise leader with 427 assists, added three tallies and set up five more in 14 playoff contests. 

The Capitals open the season against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 10.

(h/t: Washington Capitals)

Photo credit: Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports