TJ Oshie Solidifies Legendary Hockey Guy Status, Played Game 4 With Broken Hand

The Washington Capitals summer has begun, and one of the big questions will be about whether or not forward TJ Oshie will return for another season.

Now, we all know that TJ Oshie has done enough throughout his career to be considered a consummate Hockey Guy.  But wait 'til you hear what he was dealing with in the Caps' opening-round series against the New York Rangers.

In the series, Oshie took some serious shots, one was a controversial open-ice hit in Game 2 courtesy of Artemi Panarin. Then he took a hit in Game 3 from Matt Rempe, which teammate Dylan Strome revealed broke his hand.

Oshie confirmed that this was the case, but only after he appeared in game 4 and logged over 18 minutes of ice time.

Like I said; Hockey Guy.

"Dylan was not supposed to say that," Oshie said, per Russian Machine Never Breaks. "It happened midway through the second of Game 3. So, it’s fine."

Oshie then explained that adrenaline and a solid Caps training staff helped him get through Game 4 which the Rangers won on Sunday to complete the sweep.

"My hand just got full squished there in the boards. No big deal. When things like that happen, adrenaline gets you through the game, and the trainers did a good job getting me ready to play the next one. I felt very able and capable. No excuses here."

TJ Oshie hung around to salute the fans after the Capitals were knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading to speculation that he may not return next season. (John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images)

Oshie Talked About His Serious Back Issues Which Leave Him ‘Peeing In Water Bottles’

Oshie has been battling injury quite a bit this season, and the nagging injury has involved his back. The 37-year-old Olympic hero (that 2014 shootout against Russia still gives me goosebumps) said that the broken hand was nothing compared to his back issues.

"A broken hand is like a hangnail compared to what I go through with my back," Oshie said before explaining just how bad his back issues can get.

"I’m usually literally on the floor peeing in water bottles. It sucks when that happens and I can’t pick up kids or do any of that until I go see Dr. Johnson up in Minnesota and he gets me all aligned and then I seem to feel a lot better."

Anyone who has back issues can relate to that one. I've had some back issues from a hard day of writing. I've had some lower back pain from time to time, although I got a sweet cushion for my desk chair that does the trick. It hasn't escalated to the point where I'm lying on the floor and peeing in a bottle like Howard Hughes if he slept the wrong way, but I have been a little stiff from time to time when I walk into the kitchen to grab another seltzer.

So, yeah; TJ Oshie is built differently.

The question now turns to whether will he be back. Oshie was seen hanging around on the ice after shaking hands with the Rangers, which some saw as him soaking in the atmosphere one last time.

"I still love coming here, Oshie said. "I’d love to play next season but I need to find a way to maybe eliminate me going in and out of the lineup because of the same issue every time. We’ll be just looking for answers for now."