Red Alert: Backstrom seeing Specialist
The Washington Capitals front office and staff have not commented about injuries until training camp opens. There have been numerous questions involving the injury to star Center Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom suffered a neck injury playing in Russia in late December. Backstrom is now seeing a specialist in Michigan regarding his neck injury, the first indication that he will likely not be available when the season starts on January 19.
“Nick and his agent informed us that they are being proactive with his injury and decided to visit a specialist prior to training camp," a Caps spokesman said. "Obviously, as you know until camp officially starts teams cannot perform physicals on any player.”
Reports indicated it was a neck injury, but given Backstrom's history there might be reason to believe he has a concussion.
Given the fact Alexander Ovechkin hinted at Backstrom feeling 'dizzy' after the hit, it is probably safe to assume that Backstrom is having concussion type symptoms. Obviously, there will be no confirmation from the Caps until training camp commences.
Training camp is set to begin on Sunday and more and more Caps are filtering into the District and taking voluntary, informal skates with one another. As of Wednesday, 15 Caps were on hand for a skate.
Fifteen players were on the ice for Wednesday morning's informal workout, including new arrivals Troy Brouwer, Karl Alzner, Marcus Johansson, Mathieu Perreault and Jeff Schultz. They joined Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby, John Carlson, Mike Green, Mike Ribeiro, Jason Chimera, Jay Beagle, John Erskine, Jack Hillen and Matt Hendricks.
