July 28th, 2025, 11:26am
Nicklas Backstrom is reopening his hockey career in Native Sweden with Brinas after missing all his final NHL seasons due to a hip injury.
The Swedish club announced Monday that Backstrom is signing there to play this next season. The 37-year-old center’s NHL contract with the Washington Capitals expired this summer.
“I always wanted to represent Brinath again one day if the opportunity arises,” Backstrom said in a statement about rejoining the organization he started. “After undergoing rehabilitation and leaving the game for almost two seasons, I feel very recharged and full of energy to contribute to the club’s future success.”
Backstrom claimed he had hip resurfacement surgery in June 2022, hoping to address a chronic problem, and felt it was “much better” in training camp in September 2023. He last said he played in a competitive, meaningful game on October 29, 2023, and on November 1, he was on leave for what the team called an “ongoing injury situation.”
Before that, Backstrom skated in over 1,200 games in the capital, scoring over 1,100 points, helping him win the Stanley Cup in 2018.
