Ovechkin on Backstrom ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals huddled together in the locker room on Wednesday when Nicklas Backstrom took the floor to deliver some tough news: it was time for him to step away from the team. Then, emotions took over on what ended up being a melancholy day at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. "It was pretty emotional and difficult to watch. You just felt all of the emotion... just telling them in a real heartfelt way that he wants to continue to play and wants to be there for them right now and battle through, but just physically can't," head coach Spencer Carbery said. "When you see someone describing that to their brothers, it tugs at your heart." Backstrom announced that he would be leaving the game indefinitely as his hip is not responding to the resurfacing surgery he underwent in 2022. "I was in shock," Alex Ovechkin said, adding, "He's my friend, he's my teammate and to see how emotional it is, it's a tough situation. "I saw him in training camp and I was like, 'Thank God it's over,' but yeah, it's hard... me and him played together since day one, and it's kind of hard to see what's happening right now." Ovechkin on Backstrom John Carlson, who has also been with Backstrom for the duration of his time in D.C., said it was difficult news to take in, and said that it hurt more considering not only the long road back Backstrom had to make a return from the surgery, but how much he means to the team. "It shows his character, how much he stuck to it. He gave it every single chance that he has," Carlson said, adding, "[He means] everything. Yin and yang. He's been a pillar since pretty much his 15th game here. It's incredible what he's been able to accomplish. What he means to me and my career on the ice, the lessons that I've learned watching him, talking to him, picking his brain, it's a lot of moments spent together. "A lot of road trips, a lot of plane times, a lot of games, a lot of everything. It's a long time we've been together, especially that's kind of why it feels weird to me. That's because I've never been here without him." T.J. Oshie, who lives two doors down from Backstrom, was visibly emotional discussing his longtime friend and teammate, who he also credits with a lot of his personal success in D.C. "It's hard... to not have 19 on the bench next to you; that's a massive hole that can't be filled," Oshie said. "It's going to be different. When I got traded here, I was excited to play with 8 and 19. That's what got me through the pain of feeling like you were getting shipped off, was being able to play with Backstrom as a centerman and with Ovechkin as the left wing," Oshie said. "It's going to be different in so many aspects... his support on and off the ice is second to none for a lot of the guys in this room. My career kind of got resurrected because he was my centerman, and I know there are a couple of other guys that can say the same, that signed contracts because of how good of a teammate he is." Oshie on Backstrom Charlie Lindgren, who had dealt with hip issues over the course of his career and had watched Backstrom work his way back following the experimental procedure, said it was disappointing news but noted that it said a lot about the Swede's character. "Man, I know for me personally, that was news that I wasn't really expecting," Lindgren said, adding, "He was one of the first guys to try and come back [from hip resurfacing] and I think there was maybe a couple of hockey guys that tried to do that surgery and come back and play, and it as kind of a tough thing to do. But you know, when he came back last January, you can maybe see a little rust right away, but then I felt like he kind of kept on getting better and better... I give him a ton of credit, it takes a lot of strength and he's really being unselfish where he's just like, 'Hey, I'm not the hockey player that I want to be right now.'" Countrymate Rasmus Sandin, who Backstrom took under his wing when he arrived in D.C. after a trade from Toronto, agreed that not having Backstrom in the mix is strange, and said that seeing his role model leave the game indefinitely is a lot to take in. "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 starting out sitting by the breakfast waiting for me to come down on the first day and made me comfortable every single day I've been here," Sandin told The Hockey News. "It's definitely a weird feeling and it hit me for sure... he's one of the best Swedes to ever play." Going forward, the Capitals plan to support and rally around their longtime alternate captain. He will be around the rink at times and is not retiring yet, but the decision is still a tough one to take in. "We're going to do as much as we can to help him," Ovechkin promised. "Be a good person, first and foremost. He's meant so much to all of us at certain points of our careers. Certainly as a friend, with my kids, there's more to it than just that as well. Just continue to be that friend and offer whatever we an to make it easier or more fun or whatever it is."
