Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie is expected to go on long-term injured reserve this season because of chronic back problems.

The team announced Wednesday that Oshie will be listed as injured at the start of training camp after undergoing his medical exam. He and the Capitals left the door open for a possible return, even though it may be unlikely.

“I have used the offseason to explore and pursue long-term solutions for my injury,” Oshie said in a statement. “I remain committed to the process and am working and doing my best to regain total health. In the meantime, I will continue to help and support my teammates and the organization in any way I can.”

Oshie, 37, said in late April he hoped to continue playing but only if he and doctors could find a permanent solution with his back that would keep him from being in and out of the lineup. Injuries, though not just to his back, limited Oshie to 52 of 82 games last season, 58 in 2022-23 and 44 in ’21-22.

“We will support and assist T.J. as he seeks a lasting solution for his recurring injury,” GM Chris Patrick said. “T.J. is a vital member of our team and continues to be an indispensable member of the organization and leadership group. Our organization fully backs him as he assesses his current health challenges.”

Oshie is in the last year of his contract, and the Capitals will get LTIR relief for Oshie’s $5.75 million salary cap hit, just as they are with center Nicklas Backstrom, who stepped away early last season because of a nagging hip injury.

STARS: Top scorer Jason Robertson will miss most of training camp but is expected to be ready for the start of the season after surgery to remove a cyst from his foot.

GM Jim Nill said Robertson had the cyst removed July 30. Robertson will be with the team during camp, but just resumed skating on his own after six weeks of not being able to put weight on his foot.

Dallas, which made it to the Western Conference Final each of the last two seasons, opens training camp Thursday. The season opener is Oct. 10 at Nashville.

Robertson was the Stars’ top scorer each of the past two seasons while playing in all 164 regular-season games, and was the second-leading scorer in each of their two seasons before that. He had 80 points (29 goals, team-high 51 assists) last season.

LIGHTNING: The Tampa Bay Lightning selected Victor Hedman as the team captain as training camp opened, making the big defenseman the successor to Steven Stamkos.

Hedman, who is going into his 16th season with Tampa Bay, was considered the obvious choice to get the “C” after the Lightning did not re-sign Stamkos and their longtime captain left to join Nashville.

Ryan McDonagh, who was reacquired early in the offseason in a trade with the Predators, and MVP finalist Nikita Kucherov will serve as alternate captains with the Lightning moving on to the post-Stamkos era.

BLACKHAWKS: Nick Foligno became the 35th captain in franchise history. The move was announced by the organization on the eve of its first official practice of training camp.

The Blackhawks played without a captain last season after the franchise decided to move on from Jonathan Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup winner. Toews had been the captain since 2008.

Foligno, who turns 37 on Oct. 31, quickly became one of the team’s most popular players after he was acquired in a June 2023 trade with Boston. He was one of Chicago’s alternate captains in his first year with the team.

The role of captain — especially with Connor Bedard still just 19 and beginning his second season in the NHL — seemed like a natural fit for Foligno all along.