As his contract with the Washington Capitals comes to an end, Nicklas Backstrom isn't calling it a career, and per reports, will continue his playing career overseas with the team he started with: the SHL's sBrynäs IF. According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet [https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/a/4Be659/sillysurr-brynas-jagar-hv71-back-och-senaste-uppgifterna-om-nicklas-backstrom], Backstrom, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, will sign a one-year deal to join Brynäs next season and will be "treading very carefully," playing a limited number of games. Backstrom stepped away from the Capitals in 2023 amid chronic issues with his hip. He underwent hip resurfacing surgery in June 2022 to try and extend his playing career, but ultimately, couldn't continue on in the NHL. The 37-year-old last played in October 2023, putting up one assist through eight games before stepping away. He has been on the long-term injured reserve for Washington since. Backstrom, who went fourth overall to Washington in the 2006 NHL Draft, finishes his NHL career as the franchise's best center with 271 goals, 762 assists and 1,033 points through 1,105 games. Over the course of his career, Backstrom made it clear he wanted to finish up where it all started, and this allows him to close out his journey in storybook fashion.
