It's been a rough couple of seasons for Nicklas Backstrom
The legendary Washington Capitals center played just eight games in the 2023-24 season, and he missed the entire 2024-25 campaign.
Now, he's expected to leave the NHL.
Reporter Szymon Szemberg writes that Backstrom will be signing with Byrnas in Sweden, the club he played for before joining the Caps.
Backstrom, a Swedish-born all-timer, was the No. 4 overall pick in 2006.
He joined the Capitals in 2007-08 and was an immediate standout, with 69 points.
In 1,105 NHL games, all with Washington, Backstrom has put up 271 goals and 762 assists, a total of 1,033 points.
He's the Capitals' all-time leader in assists and second in points, behind just Alex Ovechkin.
It's probably a fitting conclusion to his hockey career to head to ice back home. The NHL will miss him.
MORE: Could LeBron James join the Nuggets?