Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom might not be ready for the start of the 2015-16 season.

Backstrom had hip surgery nearly three weeks ago and could require five months of rehab, Chuck Gormley of CSNWashington.com reports, citing Swedish newspaper Gefle Dagblad as his source.

"I have been in pain since November sometime so we had to correct it,” Backstrom told Gefle Dagblad. “It is difficult to say how long it will take to get back, it's a little different from individual to individual, but five months is something I heard. Right now I'm working mainly with getting up movement in the hip again.”

The season is expected to begin on Oct. 7, so five months would see Backstrom miss the first week or two of action.