Alex Ovechkin, now a veteran in the NHL, has seen plenty of teammates come and go over his 16 seasons with the Washington Capitals. One of those former teammates—who helped Ovechkin win a Stanley Cup—will now officially return to Sweden.
The last time this former Capitals player suited up alongside Ovechkin was during the 2023–24 season, where he appeared in just eight games due to ongoing limitations. He didn’t play a single NHL game the season before, making it clear that his time in the league was coming to an end.
The Capitals recently made a joint decision with the player—who scored 271 goals for the franchise—to send him back to Sweden, where he’ll rejoin the club that launched his career before heading overseas.
Who is this longtime Ovechkin teammate making the move?
According to a report from B/R Open Ice, the former Capitals star heading back to Sweden is Nicklas Backstrom. He had been with the team since the 2007–08 season, was a multiple-time award nominee, and totaled 762 assists and 1,033 points in his NHL career.
ELMONT, NEW YORK – APRIL 06: (R-L) Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals poses with Nicklas Backstrom #19 and the puck used during his 895th career goal in the second period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 06, 2025 in Elmont, New York. Ovechkin’s goal passes Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goals to become the NHL all-time goal-scoring leader.
Backstrom was instrumental in Washington’s run to the 2017–18 Stanley Cup, dishing out 18 assists during that playoff stretch. In total, he played 139 postseason games for the Capitals and scored 38 goals.
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Backstrom Returns to Brynäs IF
Backstrom is rejoining Brynäs IF, the Swedish club where he developed as a young player and launched his professional career. The last time he played in Sweden’s top league was in the 2006–07 season, when he recorded 12 goals in 45 games.
