Backstrom (hip) acknowledged that, while he would like to be ready for Oct. 10's season opener, he could miss 5-10 games, Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington reports.

EDGE Analysis

The main storyline of the Capitals training camp, Backstrom's recovery from offseason hip surgery remains shrouded in uncertainty. While skating regularly, the 27-year-old Swede still has no timetable for his return and has already been ruled out of all preseason action by head coach Barry Trotz. Backstrom has been a reliable commodity in fantasy circles since he came into the league, and while he should still have a fine season, he may not hit the marks fantasy owners have come to expect. His slide in fantasy rankings is making him a better value play especially if you are inclined to wait on drafting centers, while Evgeny Kuznetsov's value is rising as he may see an increased role should Backstrom miss time this season.