Nicklas Backstrom signs new contract after nearly two-year absence!

Longtime Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom wants to keep on playing hockey, and it has been confirmed that he has signed with Brynäs IF  of the SHL, the club he played for in 2007 before getting a contract with the Caps.

Brynäs IF has called a press conference for Monday, at which time it is expected to announce the official signing.

This is a return to hockey for the 37-year-old forward, who has not played competitively since October 2023, when he played the first eight games of the season for Washington. He then chose to pause his career, as his hip had not responded well to surgery in 2022.

But he never announced his retirement from the game he loves.

Backstrom recorded 271 goals and 762 assists for 1033 points along with 504 penalty minutes in 1105 NHL regular-season games between 2007 and 2023. He also recorded 114 points in 139 playoff games and was a major part of Washington’s 2018 Stanley Cup championship team, recording 23 points in 20 playoff games that spring.

Throughout his entire career in the NHL, Backstrom was known to be Alexander Ovechkin’s best and favourite passer, as he mostly played on a line with the Capital’s captain, who became at the end of the past season the league’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

Back in April, Ovechkin scored his record-breaking goal, which moved him past Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history, against the New York Islanders. Backstrom was in the building to celebrate his close friend’s accomplishment. Ovechkin acknowledged Backstrom during his speech in the on-ice ceremony immediately following his goal.

It’s great to see that Backstrom still loves the game and is looking to play back home to continue his illustrious career.