The Washington Capitals placed forward Nicklas Backstrom on long-term injured reserve Tuesday.
The move means Backstrom will be required to miss at least 10 games.
Backstrom, 33, has not participated in training camp while continuing to rehabilitate his left hip. He had arthroscopic surgery on it back in 2015 and previously said his current situation is due to wear and tear.
“There’s a process that you go through,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said Tuesday. “You start to see guys on the ice, so he was week-to-week. We’re pushing towards the end of what we said, and I think we’re still evaluating him to see where he’s at.
“I spoke with him today and he is improving.”
Backstrom recorded 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) in 55 games last season. He has 980 points (258 goals, 722 assists) in 1,011 career games since the Capitals selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.
He is entering the second year of a five-year, $46 million contract.
Also on Tuesday, Washington recalled forwards Connor McMichael and Beck Malenstyn from Hershey of the American Hockey League.
McMichael, 20, had 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 33 games with the Bears last season. He also played in one game with the Capitals in 2020-21.
Malenstyn, 23, has yet to record a point in three career NHL games.
–Field Level Media