this will decide itself but I'm comfortable with having this type of guy signed. backes isn't signed until 40 and honestly ive listed to 100s of these guys give their interviews about why they retire
the hof guys... usually go out on their own terms... they usually say it became difficult to train... difficult to recover from injuries... difficult to be away from their families.
a lot of guys walk away from the game while they are still very effective players... a lot of other guys get an injury in their last year or two and just feel its not worth battling through it.
I try to show a list of players that are well known for their love of the game... their dedication to training... and I try to show a list of players who have a size advantage and play a power style game throughout their career
my point is that big guys who are 30 goal scorers as they reach 30... often continue to 35... continue as they near 40... and in most cases its their own decision to retire. most of these guys are still top 6 players as they retire... still valued... still earning top contracts
I think that's the relevant argument... people are worried backes will be overpaid... that he will fall off a cliff.
we can point to guys like cam neely... eric Lindros... and show that they didn't have successful careers past 30... but these guys play like a bull in a china shop. the guys I use as my comparables are big power guys but don't run over someone every single shift
we must further remember backes is almost equally prized for his defense as his offense. in this instance hes a lot like a marian hossa I think. hossa is being used to put value onto a third line now. it effects his goal scoring but not his overall value to a team.
I think its reasonable that backes has a future like that. in a couple years who knows what the bruins lineup will be... but its reasonable to wonder if krecji will be replaced by a younger faster offensive wizard? and Bergeron will lose a step soon...losing a step should hurt his offense just given the way he scores his points...
it might become very useful to us to have a bigger body shut down guy in the third pairing helping a couple kids break into the team
this is how management is playing the odds when they sign backes at his age... with his style... with his skills and strengths.
fans get too uptight over everyone needing to score highlight goals to be a good player. in real nhl a lot of value is given to defense... grit... leadership... 2-way play
backes still have the ability to be over a 40 point guy, hes on pace for that this year... he did that last year... its not like he kills a line being put out there with krecji or Bergeron. I think he will be even more valuable as we find younger players to play in those spots. I think his best value will come on the 3rd line protecting and developing our kids.
I'm very ok with this signing... and for the record I do expect him to continue to be a 20 goal scorer until the end of his contract. if I'm wrong feel free to throw this into my face. ill eat crow if I am proven wrong.
but the historical evidence I find shows its a good gamble and one I'm glad the team made
I disagree with almost everything here. The people on the list represent a small fraction of total NHL players. The gamble is completely lopsided that he won't be an NHL player for a contender by 36. Probably when Backes hits 36,there will be about 10 forwards left who entered the league when he did,mostly elite,or role players.
