Center Nicklas Backstrom returned to practice for the Washington Capitals on Monday after spending the past five days in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
The 35-year-old, who has yet to play this season after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in June, has taken contact in practice for a couple weeks while preparing to return. Head coach Peter Laviolette said last week that Backstrom’s time in COVID-19 protocol is not expected to delay his season debut.
After being absent for the first 28 games of last season with the injured hip and returning for one game, Backstrom landed on COVID-19 protocol and missed the next two.
Per an NHL’s press release from the 2020-21 season, the reason a player is listed as “unavailable” due to COVID-19 protocol includes: (1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons.
This was the first time that a Capitals player was placed on COVID-19 protocols this season.
Carl Hagelin (hip) skating in a non-contact jersey ahead of Capitals practice again this morning. T.J. Oshie (upper body) out there as well in a regular sweater. pic.twitter.com/A1LrbUxB1u
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) January 2, 2023
By Harrison Brown
