The 37-year-old hasn’t played in almost two years after undergoing hip surgery, which led the Washington Capitals to place the star forward on long-term injured reserve. The surgery and his absence raised many questions about Bäckström’s future.

Nicklas Backstrom has never been one for fanfare. At the peak of Backstrom’s powers as one of the best playmakers in the NHL, his brash Washington Capitals running mate, Alex Ovechkin, usually grabbed the lion’s share of the spotlight,