Capitals place Backstrom on LTIR with hip injury
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom will begin the 2021-22 season on long-term injured reserve as he continues to recover from an offseason hip injury, the team announced Tuesday.
The move means Backstrom will miss at least the first 10 games of the campaign. He's eligible to return on Nov. 6.
Washington recalled top prospect Connor McMichael and Beck Malenstyn from the AHL in corresponding moves.
With Alex Ovechkin day-to-day due to a lower-body ailment, the Capitals rolled out the following lines at Monday's practice:
Lines and pairs at #Caps prax—two days before opening night:
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) October 11, 2021
McMichael-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Mantha-Eller-Sprong
Sheary-Lapierre-Oshie
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway
Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TvR-Schultz
Samsonov
Vanecek
Extras: Malenstyn, Irwin
Out: Ovechkin (LBI), Backstrom (hip)
Backstrom, 33, recorded 53 points in 55 games last season.