Although his days as an active NHLer are over, TJ Oshie, formerly of Washington's forward corps, carries a near-perpetual, painful echo of his playing career.
In a conversation with Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, Oshie disclosed that lingering back troubles continue despite his last NHL appearance dating to April of 2024. The condition eventually forced the 2018 Cup champ to step away once his final Capitals contract ran out during the summer.
He explained to Rutherford that he had been reasonably healthy for a spell, but that his familiar competitiveness pulled him into a casual basketball game roughly a month earlier, and ever since then his back had been acting up. He cast it as merely a thing he'll handle, observing that playing the way he did means you don't emerge feeling great.
He added that, were he able to redo it all, he'd choose the identical path, because it defines him. Oshie said he nearly treats it like a point of pride, having played a specific style and aimed to leave everything out there nightly, his back serving as a memento of that.
Following the close of 2023-24, Oshie had stated he would walk away unless he could find a resolution and remedy for his nagging back issues. Over his final three playing years, ailments cost him 92 games; he was available for 154 of the 246 his teams played.
Late in his time as a player, Oshie attempted a number of fixes to keep playing, among them a twin ablation operation intended to ease the pain. He regularly traveled out to Minnesota, or arranged for his doctor at Johnson Spinal Care, Kerry Johnson, to fly to the capital and treat him.
Once a 33-goal man, he made waves by acknowledging that during a flare-up that kept him out, he'd usually be flat across the floor relieving himself into water bottles. He described it as awful when it strikes, unable to lift his children or do much until he visits Dr. Johnson in Minnesota, who realigns him so he feels considerably better.
Oshie went on to spend the whole 2024-25 campaign on long-term IR before retiring this past June at a Washington Harbour ceremony — the very location where he had once marked the franchise's championship by jumping into the fountains. He has moved into media, where he serves as a credentialed contributor and in-studio analyst for both ESPN and Monumental Sports Network.
The ex-Blues winger lately worked a St. Louis game on ESPN, stationed in the space separating the two benches. On-air colleague John Buccigross described Oshie as a man yet to get over no longer playing while praising how he handled the broadcast.
It was always fun watching @TJOshie77 work at @Enterprise\_Cntr. Good to know some things never change 💙 #stlblues pic.twitter.com/lFcxXJ9U5Z — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 14, 2026
NBC additionally tapped Oshie to handle coverage of the upcoming Winter Olympics in 2026. Born in the nation's capital, the forward remains a Team USA icon for his 4-for-6 shootout showing that downed the Russians at Sochi during the 2014 Games.