Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom intends to play next season after undergoing hip surgery last month, general manager Brian MacLellan said Wednesday.

MacLellan said there is no timeline for Backstrom’s return

Backstrom, 34, has three seasons remaining on a five-year, $46 million contract. The cap hit is $9.2 million, per Spotrac.

“The anticipation is Nick’s coming back at some point, so it’s not that you can use that space,” MacLellan said. “We’re going to look to fill it from within first and then go from there after that.”

Backstrom underwent left hip resurfacing surgery on June 17, with the team declaring at the time that he would “begin his rehabilitation and lengthy recovery process.”

The 34-year-old Swede missed the first two months of this past season due to troubles with the hip. He also had surgery on the hip in 2015.

Backstrom recorded 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 47 games in 2021-22.

He has 1,011 points (264 goals, 747 assists) in 1,058 career games since the Capitals selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.

–Field Level Media