If the NHL lockout is resolved soon, the Washington Capitals may be without their top center when the season starts.
Nicklas Backstrom, who is playing with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL during the lockout, injured his neck on Dec. 26 in a game against Slovan Bratislava.
Backstrom's agent, Gunnar Svensson, explained his client's injury in an e-mail to the blog Russian Machine Never Break (thanks to ProHockeyTalk for the assist).
Nicklas has what you say -- bruised neck, Svensson said. Hard to say about the recovery time. Day to day, maybe week to week.
The 25-year-old has compiled 25 points in 19 games for Dynamo.
Quick to seek medical clearance
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is heading to Los Angeles on Thursday to see if he can receive medical clearance on his repaired back, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.
Quick underwent a procedure earlier this offseason to fix an inflammatory cyst and disc fragment.
NHL
The 26-year-old netminder went 35-21-13 with a 1.95 goals against average, .929 save percentage and posted 10 shutouts to help the Kings win the Stanley Cup last season.
Ruutu has hip surgery
Even if there is a NHL regular season this year, Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu probably won't participate.
According to Canes Now's Chip Alexander (via ProHockeyTalk), Ruutu underwent hip surgery that will keep him out an indefinite amount of time.
Were not sure how long he will be out, Hurricans general manager Jim Rutherford said. Certainly through the regular season, if we play it. Maybe longer.
Ruutu scored 18 goals and registered 34 points in 72 games for Carolina last season.