Nicklas Backstrom is resuming his hockey career back in his native Sweden with Brynas IF after missing all of last NHL season because of a nagging hip injury.

Nicklas Backstrom is returning to his native Sweden to resume his hockey career. The 37-year-old center, who last played in the NHL two seasons ago for the Washington Capitals, signed a contract with Brynas of the Swedish Hockey League on Monday, the top professional hockey league in the country.

At the peak of Backstrom’s powers as one of the best playmakers in the NHL, his brash Washington Capitals running mate, Alex Ovechkin, usually grabbed the lion’s share of the spotlight, which suited the more reserved Swede just fine.