Injury Report: Capitals Nicklas Backstrom Expected to be in Lineup for Start of Season

Nicklas Backstrom plans to be in the lineup for the Washington Capitals Oct. 10, 2015 season opener against the New Jersey Devils, following offseason hip surgery. Backstrom, whose 60 assists led the NHL last season, had arthroscopic surgery on his hip May 27, two weeks after the Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. Backstrom said:

We will just have to wait and see how things go exactly. But of course I'm hoping that I will be ready for the start of the season.

Backstrom started to feel pain in his hip in November and was able to play through it:

I felt it was time to do something about it. I can't say that I've been tortured by it. I have felt it during the season and wanted to get rid of it.

The Washington Capitals are confident the 27 year old center will be ready for the start of training camp.