ARLINGTON, VA — A smiling Washington Capitals team hit the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Thursday for the 2023-24 picture day. This year’s photo featured nearly everyone on the roster — with one notable exception. Alternate captain Nicklas Backstrom was not present for the photo, leaving a visible gap at Alex Ovechkin’s side.
Backstrom has not played since November, when he stepped away from the team after missing much of the prior season recovering from hip resurfacing surgery. He was not at the rink on Thursday, but will be edited into the final image at a later date.
While his teammates posed for the camera, Backstrom appeared to be out of the country. He joined the Oshie family and the family of former Nationals player Ryan Zimmerman on vacation in the Bahamas, per Lauren Oshie’s Instagram.
The team did not practice after they finished taking photos. They will hold an optional morning skate Friday morning before facing the Carolina Hurricanes — including old friend Evgeny Kuznetsov — that night.
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