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Caps GM provides positive injury updates for Backstrom, Orpik

Colorado Avalanche v Washington Capitals

Colorado Avalanche v Washington Capitals

NHLI via Getty Images

For all the exciting additions made this offseason, the Washington Capitals still must cross their fingers about a few injury situations.

Most obviously, they need Nicklas Backstrom’s hip surgery rehab to go well.

While it doesn’t sound like Capitals GM Brian MacLellan is guaranteeing that the outstanding playmaker will be available at the beginning of the 2015-16 season, his update was still positive, as the Washington Post reports.

“I think he’s progressing well,” MacLellan said during a Monday conference call. “I heard he started skating recently, so that’s a good sign.”

(Note: there’s no guarantee that Backstrom won’t be ready by the season-opener, either.)

Backstrom’s situation is still a work in progress, but it sounds like things are going especially well for hard-hitting defenseman Brooks Orpik. MacLellan noted that Orpik previously “managed” a wrist injury, finally decided to undergo surgery on it, and is expected to be “100 percent healthy” to start 2015-16.

There are quite a few reasons for Capitals fans to be optimistic about next season, and positive health news should only brighten those outlooks. Plenty can change in the next few months, yet it sounds like the word is so far, so good.