Capitals' T.J. Oshie Speaks On Chronic Back Injury

The Washington Capitals and T.J. Oshie gave an update on his health situation on Wednesday.

Washington Capitals right winger T.J. Oshie remains injured after undergoing his medical exam on Wednesday,

Oshie and Capitals GM Chris Patrick released statements afterward about his health situation.

"The last season was challenging for me, my family, and my teammates as I dealt with a chronic back injury that kept me out of the lineup," Oshie said. "I have used the off-season to explore and pursue long-term solutions for my injury. I remain committed to the process and am working and doing my best to regain total health."

Oshie, 37, played 52 games last season for Washington, recording 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points. He played 58 games in 2022-23 and 44 in 2021-22 out of a possible 82 games each campaign.

The Capitals are expected to place Oshie on the long-term injured reserve during the season as a result.

"We will support and assist T.J. as he seeks a lasting solution for his recurring injury," Patrick said. "T.J. is a vital member of our team and continues to be an indispensable member of the organization and leadership group. Our organization fully backs him as he assesses his current health challenges.”

Since the St. Louis Blues drafted Oshie 24th overall in 2005, he's played 1,010 NHL games between the Blues and Capitals. In that span, he has 302 goals, 393 assists and 695 points. Oshie won the Stanley Cup in 2018 with Washington as well.

"In the meantime, I will continue to help and support my teammates and the organization in any way I can," Oshie said. "I greatly appreciate all of our fans' support during this time."

The Capitals are about $10 million over the salary cap, according to PuckPedia. Once Oshie's $5.75 million cap hit and center Nicklas Backstrom's $9.2 million cap hit go on LTIR, the Capitals will be able to exceed the cap ceiling up to a combined $14.95 million in their LTIR pool.

For more details, visit The Hockey News' Washington Capitals site.

Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.