Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom is taking matters into his own hands when it comes to his contract negotiations.

"I'm told ... that he has begun talks with the Capitals without an agent," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the latest edition of "Saturday Headlines."

Backstrom, a pending unrestricted free agent, is in the final campaign of a 10-year, $67-million pact he inked with the Capitals in 2010.

The talented center - who turned 32 on Saturday - ranks second on Washington's all-time points list, first on the club's career assists list, fourth in goals, and fifth in games played.

He's racked up 18 points in 23 contests this season, and he's amassed 891 points in 918 career games.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.