Backstrom and MacLellan met on Monday morning when Backstrom surprised him with his decision.
To start last week, Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan got a phone call from Nicklas Backstrom, saying that he'd like to meet on Monday morning. There, he dropped a major decision: he was stepping away from hockey.
MacLellan said it was a difficult choice, but one that came from Backstrom. The 35-year-old said that his hip is not responding to resurfacing surgery the way that he'd hoped, and at this point, it's time to reevaluate.
After letting MacLellan, the trainers and Spencer Carbery know, Backstrom went to tell his teammates, who were left in shock following his departure.
"It's a tough one. You watch his progression here over the last-llus years... playing hurt, numerous recovery attempts to get it better, then the hip resurfacing. I mean, it's been a long process that has been hard on him mentally and emotionally," MacLellan said. "It's been hard to see him go through all that stuff and then make the decision."
Backstrom had been struggling to start the season, posting one assist through eight games while his speed on the ice had taken a clear hit. At one point, there was speculation that he could be a healthy scratch, considering the rise of Connor McMichael.
MacLellan added that it was an emotional conversation and one that's stuck with the organization, given his legacy and career in D.C. Through 17 years, he established himself as an elite playmaker, becoming the franchise leader in assists and blazing a trail as one of the top Swedish centers to play.
"I have a lot of respect for the person, first of all. And the player. I don't know if we can describe how much he's meant to the organization. He's the guy that has drive the culture here for a long time, pretty much his whole career here, 17 years," MacLellan said. "The way he handles himself off the ice and on the ice, I think that's a big part of our success and our culture that we've had over the years here."
When asked if Backstrom would play again this season, MacLellan said it's unlikely.
"I'm not sure," MacLellan said, asking how this is different from Backstrom's previous times away from the team. "I think that's a question for him to answer. It's been a long process for him to get through the injury. I think it's been hard for him, and he made a hard decision."
There is the hope, though, that No. 19 will remain around the hockey club. Right now, he is on the injured reserve but will go on the LTIR to save cap space.
"We'll give him time, space and support. I expect we'll see him around, working out, being around the guys, being around the coaches, and then we'll kind of see where it goes from there," MacLellan said, adding, "We just need a little time to have things sort itself out here."