Longtime Washington Capitals veteran Nicklas Backstrom is officially moving back to Brynas IF, the Swedish club he played for prior to joining the NHL in 2007.
The 37-year-old center’s NHL contract with the Capitals expired this summer. He last played in an NHL game on October 29, 2023, saying on November 1 he was taking a leave of absence because of what the team called an “ongoing injury situation.”
Backstrom officially ends his Capitals tenure with multiple accolades, including No. 1 in assists (762), No. 2 in points (1,033), No. 2 in games (1,105), No. 4 in goals (271), and most importantly, a Stanley Cup in 2018.
The Capitals social media accounts officially wished Backstrom the best of luck after years of “leadership, loyalty, humility, and vision” in DC.
Sending our best wishes and gratitude to Nicky as he returns home to continue his hockey career in Sweden#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/PfLcRaA87p
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 28, 2025