Washington Capitals star leaves the team for personal reasons

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Josh tupper
November 1, 2023 (10:42)

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It's been a long season already for the Washington Capitals. After a tough start the team has struggled to find success. With their aging core it was only a matter of time before Father Time would finally catch up to the Caps.

Today it was announced that forward Nicklas Backstrom was going to be forced to take time away from the team. After a difficult surgery last summer Backstrom fought back to try and continue his career.

Backstrom shared the following message:

Given my ongoing injury situation, I decided to take some time and step away from the game. This is a difficult decision, but one that I feel is right for my health at this time. I want to thank my teammates, the organization, and fans for their unwavering support throughout this process. I ask for privacy at this time as I determine my next steps and viable options moving forward.

The Caps General Manager shared the following:

We stand behind Nicklas and will support him throughout this process. We know firsthand how hard he has worked and how determined he is to get back to full health. Our organization stands fully behind him while he takes his leave of absence from the team and takes time to evaluate his current health situation.

This could be the end of what has been a very successful career for Backstrom. Our thoughts are with him during this time.