Nicklas Backstrom played in his first competitive game on Thursday since stepping away from hockey with the Washington Capitals on November 1, 2023.

After a one year, nine month, and 13 day layoff, Backstrom suited up with Brynäs IF in their first game of the 2025 SHL preseason, taking on Timrå IK at Hudiksvall’s Holmen Center. The Super Swede skated on the second line with former NHL players Kieffer Bellows and Anton Rödin.

The Capitals’ franchise leader in assists did not take long to get on the scoresheet, registering points on two of Brynäs’s first three goals of the game.

Backstrom’s first point, a secondary assist, came at five-on-five while carrying the puck at the top of the left circle. He sent a centering pass to the front of the net that was tipped by Rödin. The puck found Bellows (number 81) camped out at the top of the crease. The veteran of 114 NHL games then backhanded the puck into the back of the net.

Bellows’ tally gave Brynäs a 1-0 lead 3:43 into the first period. Fellow 2018 Stanley Cup champion, Michal Kempny, was on the ice for the goal.

Backstrom then added a stunning primary assist during a Brynäs power-play later in the period, sending a perfect cross-ice, sauce pass to Jakob Silfverberg for a one-timer from the left circle.

The goal, which gave Brynäs a 3-0 lead, garnered loud ooos and ahhhs from visiting fans in attendance.

Brynäs would go on to defeat Timrå 4-1, finishing the night with two points.

The multi-point game for Backstrom, across leagues, was his first since March 23, 2023, when he recorded a goal and an assist against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The headline on Expressen, one of the leading sports sites in Sweden, was Succé för Nicklas Bäckström or translated to English Success for Nicklas Bäckström.

The SHL game was Backstrom’s first in a Brynäs jersey for 6,724 days per TV4, when he played for the team during the 2006-07 season.

6724 dagar sedan senaste matchen. 6726 dagar sedan senaste målet. Ikväll är Nicklas Bäckström tillbaka i Brynäs-tröjan.

Se det – och HELA SHL-uppladdningen – på TV4 Play. Sändningsstart 17:55 📺🏒 pic.twitter.com/dTqSn7hsQt

— TV4 Hockey (@TV4_Hockey) August 14, 2025

Backstrom signed with Brynäs on July 28, inking a one-year deal that has the option for a second season.

“I have always felt that I would like to represent Brynäs again someday if the opportunity arose,” Backstrom said in Swedish and translated by Google Translate. “I have long had a great drive to return to Brynäs. After undergoing rehab and being away from the game for almost two seasons, I feel very charged and full of energy to contribute to the club’s future successes.”

Backstrom moved back to his native country in June and put up his Northern Virginia home for sale, ending his near two-decade run in North America.

Brynäs’s next preseason game will be next Thursday (August 21) against MoDo at Hägglunds Arena in Örnsköldsvik. The team’s regular season opener is on Saturday, September 13 against the Vaxjo Lakers.

Brynäs’s full line-up against Timrå IK (8/14)
Forwards

#71 Axel Jonsson Fjällby – #10 Johan Larsson – #33 Jakob Silfverberg
#81 Kieffer Bellows – #19 Nicklas Bäckström – #18 Anton Rödin
#47 Lucas Pettersson – #20 Tyler Vesel – #36 Linus Ölund
#17 Michal Svrcek – #41 Greg Scott – #52 Jack Kopacka

Defensemen

#28 Johannes Kinnvall – #5 Michal Kempný
#3 Christian Djoos / #14 Robert Hägg
#27 Mattias Norlinder / #24 Aron Dahlqvist

Goalkeepers

#45 Damian Clara
#61 Collin Delia