Report: Capitals' Backstrom hopes to be ready for season opener

The Washington Capitals may have all their weapons to start next season.

Nicklas Backstrom, the team's second-leading scorer behind only Alex Ovechkin, hopes he'll be fully recovered from hip surgery in time for Washington's season opener Oct. 10.

"We will just have to wait and see how things go exactly," Backstrom told a Swedish radio station, according to NHL.com. "But of course I'm hoping that I will be ready for the start of the season."

Head coach Barry Trotz said in early July that Backstrom would be ready to skate by camp, but his status was “up in the air” for the Capitals' season opener against the New Jersey Devils.

Backstrom, 27, earned 78 points in 82 regular-season games, leading the league with 60 assists.