Over the past two seasons, Nicklas Backstrom faced conversations that frankly, he had no interest in having.
The Washington Capitals center's nagging left hip had deteriorated to the point where he had a hard time putting on his socks and shoes. He struggled to play with his kids (ages 9, 6 and 2). He walked around the team facility with a limp.
"I couldn't bend my left leg, I could barely bend over," Backstrom told ESPN. "It ached all the time, especially after games."
The daily pain was met with frustration.
"Yeah, I played," Backstrom said.