Nicklas Backstrom is back in a familiar and frustrating spot.
The legendary Washington Capitals center was absent when Brynäs IF reconvened for the start of the 2026–27 SHL season on Thursday, July 30, and held its first on-ice practice on Monday, August 3, in the A-Hall at Monitor ERP Arena.
Gefle Dagblad reported that while the 38-year-old Backstrom is back in Gävle, Sweden, he remains on medical leave while rehabilitating an undisclosed injury. Backstrom’s NHL career ended due to a long-term hip ailment.
Backstrom remains under contract for 2026–27 because neither he nor Brynäs exercised the option to terminate the final season of his two-year deal over the offseason. However, Brynäs stated officially in May that he had injury problems that required continued rehabilitation and there was no known end date to his recovery. The club constructed its roster with the possibility that the 2018 Stanley Cup champion might not be available. General manager Johan Alcén described any contribution from Backstrom next season as “a bonus.”
“Nicklas has been struggling with injury problems during the spring that require continued rehabilitation with an unknown end date, which makes his status uncertain for the upcoming season,” the team’s press release reads per a translation from Google Translate. “Brynäs IF will therefore give Nicklas the time required and at the same time build the squad based on the possibility that he may not play.”
Brynäs also added at the time that Backstrom has been rehabilitating with the team’s medical staff and Sand Clinic, a specialist medical clinic in Stockholm.
In Backstrom’s return to the team he played for in his youth, he appeared in 45 of 52 regular season games last season, missing just seven contests. On October 4, 2025, Backstrom scored his first professional goal since April 2023 with the Capitals — a span of nearly two years.
Backstrom finished the regular season with 30 points (3g, 27a), tying him for fourth-most on the team. He played in every playoff game as Brynäs was eliminated by Växjö in five games of the first round. The Super Swede recorded two assists, including one in the elimination game, but did not score a playoff goal.
Backstrom has been rehabbing ever since and there is currently no timetable for his return to team activities.
“Of course, it’s been really fun, even if you’re disappointed right now,” Backstrom said after Brynäs was eliminated from the postseason, unsure if his career would continue. “It’s been a great experience to come back and play ice hockey. People had higher expectations, maybe, but I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for two years, and I’m just incredibly happy to be doing what I love.
“The fact that I have received so much love and emotion at home has been appreciated and nothing I expected. I will live with that for a long time.”
With Backstrom out, Brynäs (ironically) may turn to talented former Capitals prospect Milton Gästrin, who was traded to the St. Louis Blues as part of the Connor McMichael deal. Weeks later, the Blues loaned the 19-year-old center to Brynäs for the 2026-27 campaign. Gästrin is coming off an age-18 season where he recorded 24 points (10g, 14a) in 39 HockeyAllsvenskan games with MoDo Hockey. He also made his AHL debut for the Hershey Bears in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Brynäs’ first public game action will be the Svarta mot Vita intrasquad event on Saturday, August 8, at Monitor ERP Arena in Gävle. Former Capitals Christian Djoos, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, and Johan Larsson remain on the roster this season.
