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Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson Skate On Own; Capitals Share Update

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Washington Capitals Nicklas Backstrom

It’s still very early in the process, but the Washington Capitals got a much-welcome sight as injured stars Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson took the ice as they continue their rehabilitation this season.

Backstrom and Wilson were both on the ice for a few minutes prior to the Capitals practice. Per the team, they were scheduled to skate, they are not scheduled to skate for the next few days, and they are not ready to resume skating yet. There is still a long way to go, but it is part of the rehabilitation.

Backstrom is recovering from hip resurfacing surgery, a procedure that is difficult to come back from. He said prior to the season that he is “pain-free” for the first time in years. Though the surgery is experimental, seeing Backstrom skating as part of his lengthy rehab is great to see.

“I’m very optimistic that I’m going to play before the season ends,” Backstrom said. “We’ve got to check off a couple boxes first [before I get back on the ice]. It’s all about strengthening the leg again and making sure it’s getting back to the normal function.”

READ MORE ON WHN: Nicklas Backstrom Opens Up About Decision To Have Surgery, Returning To Washington Capitals

Wilson, meanwhile, is recovering from a torn ACL. The 28-year-old, who had 52 points last year in an All-Star season, suffered the injury in Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Florida Panthers. He said he is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery. The original timeline has him returning at some point in December or January.

“I think it’s one of those things where you can be ahead of schedule and still need to wait. It’s kind of a weird mental one that way because you’ve got to let the injury heal itself. Just like the science and the research and everything on all this stuff is saying you’ve got to wait and do it once,” Wilson noted. “I feel good, I feel like I’ve kind of been ahead of schedule, per se, since Day 1. But that doesn’t mean much, unfortunately. Obviously, I want to be as good as I can every day, but you’ve still got to wait.”

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