T.J. Oshie Provides Update On Back, Where He's At As He Ponders Future With Capitals: 'You Just Don't Want To Be That Burden'

For Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, this will be the most challenging offseason yet, and one that decides his future.

The 37-year-old has been busy so far this summer and said he's starting to feel better, but he acknowledged that the road ahead still has a lot of unknowns.

Oshie, who will tee off in the American Century Championship next week, spoke more about his progress and next steps in a July 4 interview with NHL Network .

"The back is kind of a different story. I'm still grinding away," Oshie said. "Going to start really training here soon, and it'll just be a matter of whether or not I can get my body healthy enough to compete when training camp rolls around."

Oshie said that he's been reaching out to different specialists and is still trying to find a long-term solution to his back issues, but admitted that "the list is running out for sure on things that we've tried" to remedy the situation.

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The American-born winger underwent a double ablation last summer, but that was a short-term fix. Since then, he's had to frequently take trips to see his chiropractor in Minnesota in order to make it through a handful of games at a time.

Although it got him through last season, where he hit the 1,000-game and 300-goal milestones, he doesn't want to repeat that pattern this season and said it's "unfair" to him and the team if he does.

"I want to come back and compete and not worry about injuring my back every four to five games. I think it's also unfair to my teammates, coaching staff, every one upstairs if I'm not reliable as a player," Oshie acknowledged. "That's something that I've prided my game after, being very coachable and knowing what I'm supposed to do in every moment and being a player that my teammates and coaches can rely on and when you got someone that's a little iffy and isn't 100 percent healthwise, you just don't want to be that burden."

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Oshie, who was limited to just 52 games last season amid back pain that usually has him "literally on the floor, peeing in water bottles," said that his hope is to keep playing, but he understands that may not be possible for him.

"I'd obviously love to keep playing, I feel like I can still hang in there with the young bucks so I hope to be back next season," he noted ."If not, though, super happy and proud of what I've been able to accomplish."

The Capitals said they are ready to be patient and support Oshie in whichever way as he ponders his next steps.

Oshie hit the 1,000-game and 300-goal milestones last season and has recorded 695 points in 1,010 outings, while also winning a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.

In the end, no matter what happens, Oshie said one thing is certain:

"I'm still not able to change my game," he declared, adding, "Just trying to get 100 percent healthy and prevent anything happening in the future."