ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said it’s unlikely Nicklas Backstrom plays again this season after the Swedish center stepped away from the team last week, citing the ongoing issues with his surgically repaired left hip. MacLellan stopped short of ruling Backstrom out for the remainder of the season or saying the franchise cornerstone had played his final NHL game. He’s been such a big part of the organization,” MacLellan said Monday. He had just one point in eight games this season, was taken off the top power-play unit and had his ice time drastically reduced. “I don’t think I’m going to be the guy that’s going to be able to just replace Nicklas Backstrom," McMichael said.

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Persons: Brian MacLellan, Nicklas Backstrom, MacLellan, He’s, ” MacLellan, everybody’s, Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, “ It’s, It’s, Connor McMichael, McMichael, “, ”, Rasmus Sandin, Sandin, he’s, Nic Dowd, Joel Edmundson, Max Pacioretty, Achilles Organizations: — Washington Capitals, NHL, Capitals Locations: ARLINGTON, Va, Swedish, Washington, Toronto