Washington Capitals Place Nicklas Backstrom On Long Term IR

The Washington Capitals have placed their top center Nicklas Backstrom on the long-term injured reserve list as of this morning. This move frees up approximately $6.7 million additional cap room for the Capitals to potentially make a deal.

The move gives GM George McPhee about $7.6 million of cap space to maneuver, but only if Backstrom is out for the remainder of the regular season.

Given that the 24-year-0ld Swede has missed the last 25 games, and has only skated for five minutes in the past 52 days with a concussion, it wouldn’t be surprising if Backstrom wouldn’t be able to return until the playoffs. During the postseason there is no salary cap limit.

Backstrom’s placement on the long-term injured reserve list is retroactive to January 4, and because he has missed over 10 games and 24 days, he could potentially return at any point, even before the postseason, if the Capitals have the space for him under the cap.