ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom said Saturday he’s taking his hip injury rehab slowly and doesn’t know when he’ll be able to play.
Backstrom has not skated during training camp and seems like a long shot to play in the season opener Oct. 13 against the New York Rangers or soon thereafter.
“I have no timetable here,” Backstrom said in his first public comments since camp started. “We’re just going to listen to the body and go slow. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully I’ll be back skating soon.”
The 33-year-old Swede has ruled out having another surgery on his left hip. He had arthroscopic surgery on it in 2015, and the current injury is the result of wear and tear over the past six years.
“Over time, over the years, it’s been grinding it a little bit,” Backstrom said. “When that happens, you just kind of have to reset and build it up again and that is where we are at. (It) takes longer than you hope, but that is just progress: Just part of building it up again and making it strong again.”
The Capitals could put Backstrom on long-term injured reserve to get relief for his $9.2 million salary against the $81.5 million cap. That would force him to miss at least the first 10 games of the season.
Backstrom is considered week to week.
