Nicklas Backstrom (hip) will miss four-to-five games as he works his way back from offseason hip surgery.

Backstrom (hip) will miss four or five games to open the year as he works his way back from offseason hip surgery, the Associated Press reports.

Analysis:

While the original thought was that Backstrom could miss anywhere from zero to 10 games, a more concrete timeline for the playmaking center is a positive sign for him. After a league-high 60 assists last season, Backstrom should slot right back into the top line alongside Alex Ovechkin and should return to being in the upper echelon of pivots.