Backstrom took Sandin under his wing after the 23-year-old's trade from Toronto.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Rasmus Sandin vividly remembers the day he met his hero. He had just been traded to the Washington Capitals from the Toronto Maple Leafs and was going to get breakfast before practice in San Jose, feeling some nerves as he got ready to adjust to a new team.

There, countrymate Nicklas Backstrom, a longtime role model, was waiting for him with a smile. The nerves went away in an instant for Sandin as Backstrom immediately took him under his wing and introduced him to the rest of the team, while automatically making him feel at home.

So, when Backstrom took the floor in the locker room before practice and told Sandin and his teammates that he was stepping away from the game due to his ongoing hip issues, the 23-year-old was visibly emotional.

"It hit me for sure," he told The Hockey News. "Obviously, it's a guy that I've looked up to every day I've been here. He made me comfortable being here from day one, from just sitting up by the breakfast waiting for me to come down the first day and every single day I've been here. It's definitely a weird feeling."

Beyond breakfast and time at the rink, Backstrom and Sandin had grown close off the ice, as No. 19 would host Sandin for family dinners. It's time that Sandin doesn't take for granted, as he's not only made a close friend in Backstrom but a teacher, too.

"He's probably gonna miss me a lot," Sandin grinned, then said, "I just try to hang out with him and his family a little bit on the outside."

For Sandin, though, and the Swedish hockey community, seeing Backstrom decide to leave the game for the time being is difficult.

"He's one of the best Swedes who ever played. It's definitely a tough one," Sandin said. "But again, he needs to do what he feels like he needs to do and take care of his body. Also just being his teammate, it's definitely tough."

Capitals defenseman and fellow Swede Hardy Häman Aktell, who Backstrom also took under his wing after he came to play for D.C. in North America, also said it's hard to see one of the country's best players make that choice.

"It's nice to see how good of a guy he is and just what a legend he is and how he takes care of himself... He was one of the guys I followed when I was growing up seeing how good of a hockey player he was. Now, to get to know him and see him as a person is pretty special for me... he gave me his number and said if I ever need something, you can just call me, and I can help you," Häman Aktell said. 

Other Swedes around the league also wished Backstrom the best and recalled the influence he had on their careers.

"For me, obviously, he was a top player since he entered the league. I think as a young player, it was fun to watch him and all those plays he's making," New York Islanders forward and countrymate Pierre Engvall told The Hockey News colleague Stefen Rosner. "As a kid, I think you wanted his curve; everyone wanted in Sweden wanted the P92... great player."

"He was a great player and you knew that he was gonna be something special. To have been able to follow his career the whole way, it's amazing to see," Islanders defenseman Sebastian Aho said to Rosner. "Seeing someone take time away from the game, it's not fun. It's our job, but it's what we love to do, it's what we think is the most fun. It's tough to see."

At the end of the day, Sandin said that he and the Capitals plan to do everything they can to support him, and at the end of the day, believe he is doing what's right for himself.

"He's had a fantastic career... he needs to do what he needs to do with his body and everything, but obviously it sucks with everything that comes with it," Sandin said.