Capitals Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom taking “beginning steps” on ice after each underwent surgeries


Capitals Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom taking “beginning steps” on ice after each underwent surgeries

Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom

Wednesday was a gleeful day for the Washington Capitals players and coach, as their star forwards Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom glided on the ice during practice. Though it was for a minuscule 10 minutes, it was a fulfilling one. After taking a break for months, this seemed like fresh air to them.

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The teammates and coach expressed their joy at seeing both forwards skate together. This 10 minutes skate became the first step they took towards getting back on the ice since their respective surgeries. Wilson had surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on May 24, while Backstrom had left hip surgery on June 17.

Capitals coach Peter Laviolette stated, “I was excited to see them out there,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. “They’re at the beginning steps of getting back on the ice. You won’t see them in gear tomorrow.” 

“They’re at the very beginning, but it was great to see them out there. I’m sure that they were thrilled to get out there and touch the ice and touch their edges and move a puck around, and it’s awesome. It makes me happy that they’re both out there and they’re working down the road to recovery.” 

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Capitals excited to see Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom back on ice

Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom
Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom

The latest report stated that Wilson may be joining the ice from December onwards, while Backstrom is yet out indefinitely. They didn’t put on any jerseys during their Wednesday practice, but both of them being in their skates lifted the teammate’s spirits up.

Forward T. J. Oshie commented, “It’s so good to see”. “Nick told me at the bus stop this morning (when they dropped off their children) that he was going on the ice today for the first time, so I was crazy excited to get here and see him out there.” 

“Sure enough, he was throwing flat [saucer passes] out there like it was nothing and he hasn’t skated in like six months, five months, whatever.” Without the forwards, the Capitals are currently running with a score of 4-3-0, as they armor up for Dallas Stars on Thursday. 

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After the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Backstrom hinted that he might need to undergo surgery for his resurfacing hip injury. Even after missing 28 games last season, he had a record of 31 points with 6 goals and 25 assists in 47 games and 6 points with 2 goals and 4 assists in 6 Stanley Cup games.

Wilson on the other hand missed the remainder of the best-of-7 series after getting injured in the first period of Game 1. Last season he had his career highs of 24 goals, 28 assists, and 52 points in 78 regular season games.

Oshie stated, “I know they both felt really good to get out there”. “So, it’s a good step, obviously, for the whole organization. As their close friends, it’s a really good step for them and their season to get on the ice and just snap it around a little.”

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