Backstrom (hip) will sign a contract with Brynas IF of the SHL for the 2025-26 season, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Backstrom's NHL career has essentially been confirmed as over since he stepped away from the Capitals early in the 2023-24 campaign. He played in 1,105 regular-season games, earning 271 goals and 762 assists, all with the Capitals. He is the team's franchise leader in assists. The 37-year-old's return to Sweden will allow him to end his playing career in a part-time role for his hometown club.

Backstrom (hip) is expected to spend the 2024-25 campaign on long-term injured reserve, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Backstrom managed just eight games this year before being forced to miss the remainder of the campaign on LTIR. At this point, Backstrom's career appears to be over with the center essentially riding out the final year of his contract. That being the case, Backstrom will eventually retire having played in 1105 contests, all for the Capitals, in which he racked up 271 goals and 762 assists over the course of 17 seasons.

Backstrom (hip), who announced last Wednesday that he's temporarily stepping away from hockey to focus on his health, was moved to the long-term injured reserve list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

It was already expected that Backstrom would be out for a while, but this move serves to confirm that notion. He had an assist in eight contests before beginning his break from hockey. With Backstrom unavailable, Dylan Strome seems to have cemented himself on the Capitals' top line.

Backstrom, who underwent hip surgery in 2022 but has been playing this season, announced Wednesday he would be temporarily stepping away from hockey to focus on his health. Additionally, Backstrom has been placed on injured reserve, per the NHL media site.

EDGE Analysis

Backstrom cited his "injury situation" in his explanation for taking time off from hockey, but he didn't specify if his hip is the issue or if there is a different problem. The 35-year-old also didn't provide a potential timetable for his return, but given the nature of the announcement, it seems fair to believe he'll miss a decent chunk of time at a minimum. Backstrom has just one assist in eight contests while averaging 14:34 of ice time this year, and if he's been playing injured, that would explain his lack of production and limited role. Hendrix Lapierre, who was recalled Sunday, might play regularly during Backstrom's absence.

Backstrom notched an assist in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Devils.

EDGE Analysis

Backstrom snapped his season-opening drought with the secondary helper on Connor McMichael's third-period goal. Playing in a middle-six role and on the second power-play unit, Backstrom isn't expected to produce as much as he has in past seasons this year. He's at 11 shots on net, five blocked shots and a minus-2 rating through six contests.

Backstrom has no points and has managed a minus-3 rating and 10 shots through the first five games.

EDGE Analysis

The Capitals are struggling overall, but Backstrom is averaging the lowest ice time (15:54) of his career. He's been been removed from the top line and was recently moved off the top power-play unit with Dylan Strome replacing him on both units. The 35-year-old Backstrom is bound to start producing again and this slump could be the residual effects of his recovery from the hip resurfacing surgery he had in 2022, but fantasy managers are bound to be spooked by the early returns.

Backstrom scored a goal and an assist on two shots, leading the Capitals to a 6-1 win over the Blackhawks on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The second star of the game, Backstrom would give the Capitals a 4-0 lead on the power play, scoring on a loose puck in front of Anton Khudobin. The Swedish forward would also add an assist on John Carlson's power-play goal. Backstrom seems to be heating up as of late, scoring points in four of his last five games with five points in that span. On the season, Backstrom has six goals and 17 points in 30 games.

Backstrom collected a goal in a 5-2 loss to St. Louis on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Backstrom didn't make his season debut until Jan. 8 because of a hip injury, and he hasn't lived up to his usual offensive standards since returning. Through 27 outings in 2022-23, Backstrom has five goals and 14 points. The 35-year-old has recorded a point in three of his last four games though, so perhaps he's heating up.

Backstrom netted a goal in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Islanders.

EDGE Analysis

Backstrom's marker in the third period extended the Capitals' lead to 5-1. He's up to four goals and 12 points in 24 contests this season. Backstrom didn't score a goal over his previous nine outings, though he did have four assists in that span.

Backstrom logged a power-play assist in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Kings.

EDGE Analysis

Backstrom helped out on Alex Ovechkin's third-period tally. While he hasn't scored in his last eight games, Backstrom has provided four assists, including three on the power play, in that span. The 35-year-old center has 11 points, 34 shots on net, 18 hits, 12 blocked shots and a minus-14 rating through 22 contests this season.