Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom will begin the 2021-22 season on long-term injured reserve as he continues to recover from an offseason hip injury, the team announced Tuesday.
The move means Backstrom will miss at least the first 10 games of the campaign. He's eligible to return on Nov. 6.
Washington recalled top prospect Connor McMichael and Beck Malenstyn from the AHL in corresponding moves.
With Alex Ovechkin day-to-day due to a lower-body ailment, the Capitals rolled out the following lines at Monday's practice:
Backstrom, 33, recorded 53 points in 55 games last season.