'Huge development' regarding Nicklas Backstrom.

It is no secret that the Washington Capitals are not having the season that they were hoping for with just 7 wins through their first 19 games of the regular season, a record that has landed them in the basement of the National Hockey League's Metropolitan division with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have played 3 fewer games, being the only team in the division that has accumulated fewer points.

While there's no doubt this start has been a disappointment, the Capitals' struggles also have to be viewed in the context of the devastating number of injuries the team has had to deal with to start the 2022-23 regular season.

Thankfully, on Saturday the Capitals finally got some good news on that front when there was a nice surprise during the Capitals' morning skate. According to a video published by Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, Capitals star forward Nicklas Backstrom was back on the ice in full equipment today for the first time since undergoing major hip surgery.

Backstrom can be seen skating in his gear alongside fellow injured Capital T.J. Oshie in the short video below:

This is a 'huge development' according to Whyno himself who tempered his excitement by acknowledging that Backstrom remains out 'indefinitely' and considering the way the season has played out for the Capitals thus far it's hard to disagree.

Backstrom has been an incredibly consistent player for the Capitals since he was drafted in the first round (4th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and has put up nearly a point per game with the franchise with 1011 points over 1058 regular season games. A returning Backstrom would be huge for a Capitals team that is currently without several of their top forwards including the aforementioned T.J. Oshie and Capitals enforcer Tom Wilson.