GAVLE, Sweden (AP) 鈥� Nicklas Backstrom is resuming his hockey career back in his native Sweden with Brynas IF after missing all of last NHL season because of a nagging hip injury.
The Swedish club announced Monday that Backstrom was signing there to play this coming season. The 37-year-old center鈥檚 NHL contract with the Washington Capitals expired this summer.
鈥淚 have always felt that I would like to represent Brynas again someday if the opportunity arose,鈥� Backstrom said in a statement about rejoining the organization where he started. 鈥淎fter undergoing rehab and being away from the game for almost two seasons, I feel very charged and full of energy to contribute to the club鈥檚 future successes.鈥�
Backstrom in June 2022, hoping to address a chronic issue, and by training camp in September 2023 鈥渨ay better.鈥� He last played in a competitive, meaningful game on Oct. 29, 2023, saying on Nov. 1 he was because of what the team called an 鈥渙ngoing injury situation.鈥�
Before that, Backstrom skated in more than 1,200 games with the Capitals, recording more than 1,100 points, and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2018. The Capitals in a statement thanked Backstrom and wished him luck in the future, saying he 鈥済ave everything he had each and every day.鈥�
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