Nicklas Backstrom, who elevated the Caps and their captain, to play in Sweden
At the peak of Backstrom's powers as one of the best playmakers in the NHL, his brash Washington Capitals running mate, Alex Ovechkin, usually grabbed the lion's share of the spotlight, which suited the more reserved Swede just fine.
When Backstrom played his final NHL game, no one knew it was the last. It was the eighth game of the 2023-24 season and the 1,105th of Backstrom's career, a no-frills late October win over the San Jose Sharks. Three days later, Backstrom announced that as a result of his 'ongoing injury situation,' most notably the hip issues he had for years, he would be stepping away from hockey.
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Associated Press
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