Player Discussion David Backes III

[trenton1]

I really like Backes, but his is a concerning situation. Way too many concussions. I've already seen 4 serious head shots on him with my own eyes and I didn't even watch his games regularly until last year.

You've got to wonder if it's going to be worth it for him to continue much longer. I'm not talking about or interested in his contract at all. I'm talking about his health and proclivities.

I've noticed that he tends to settle and play the puck slowly and deliberately with his head down at lot. He's open to getting lined up quite a bit. Then he's got the heart of a lion. If this series went 7 he'd probably suit up.
This guy is in trouble, IMO.

 

[Mainehockey33]

With $18 million on the table... It'd have to be pretty bad. Considering this is the last big money he's gonna make.

You really want to love the guy because he's a terrific teammate, terrific guy, really brings a lot of stuff that help a team out. But it's really, really tough to look past his contract. Just a really raw deal.

Living with post concussion syndrome isn’t worth any amount of money, look at what happened to Steve Montador.

 

[Over the volcano]

Living with post concussion syndrome isn’t worth any amount of money, look at what happened to Steve Montador.

Appreciate his toughness and devotion to the game, but also hope he thinks long and hard about his future.

 

[TimThomas24]

Rick Nash is like our Callahan

He played well today and his line got us on the PP

This is such a terrible take.

 

[TwineTickler]

I really like Backes, but his is a concerning situation. Way too many concussions. I've already seen 4 serious head shots on him with my own eyes and I didn't even watch his games regularly until last year.

You've got to wonder if it's going to be worth it for him to continue much longer. I'm not talking about or interested in his contract at all. I'm talking about his health and proclivities.

I've noticed that he tends to settle and play the puck slowly and deliberately with his head down at lot. He's open to getting lined up quite a bit. Then he's got the heart of a lion. If this series went 7 he'd probably suit up.
This guy is in trouble, IMO.

Thought the same thing when I saw he was concussed yet again. Just turned 34. Big time family guy. LTIR perhaps? He doesn't have to give the money away. With Savvy, a concussion ended his career and he was on LTIR. Does a doctor need to say that a player is unfit to play to be put on LTIR? Like if Backes brain is in good enough shape even though he was concussed yet again, does that make him ineligible for LTIR? It's an interesting piece of the puzzle as far as wanting to move on from the player and his contract....

With that being said the most important thing is I hope he gets healthy quick and makes the right decision for himself and for his family.

 

[cat400]

Firstly I hope Backes is not seriously hurt.

Seeing him concussed today brought back memories of Scott Steven and Eric Lindros.

With Backes major stomach surgery and concussion history, it may be time for this illustrious warrior to consider stepping away from the game for his and his family sake. He probably would do well in a coaching / management role.

If his health forces him to step away from the game, then his remaining salary I believe would be covered by LTIR as was Marc. Savard.

 

[PatriceBergeron]

Tough paying a 4th line caliber player 6M. The third line giving us close to nothing was one of our biggest issues this playoff.

Backes should be the player we try to move this offseason, not Krejci.

 

[Bruinaura]

Living with post concussion syndrome isn’t worth any amount of money, look at what happened to Steve Montador.

I think about guys like Bergeron and Crosby, who are still playing. Do they still have potential for problems down the road, even if they don't get concussed again? Concussions are very scary.

Backes went through a lot this year. I respect him. If he can play next year, glad to have him. But more than anything, I want him to be healthy, whether he plays another game for the Bruins or not.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

concussion aside, this guy was such a huge disappointment. we desperately needed a physical presence in this series and all he was really good for was barking at guys after the whistle.

the Bruins desperately need a couple wingers who have that wrecking ball mentality and Backes and Acciari in the end just don't get the job done

 

[Cronuss]

I really like David Backes and everything he has brought to this team.

Worried about his health, and sad that this may be the last time we see him in a Bruins (or any) jersey.

 

[LouJersey]

I'd like to give him a shot at center next year. Year one was tough coming to a new team and year two he was constantly sick/hurt. He came back a month early from his colon surgery. I'm going to take an optimistic view on him.

 

[bp13]

I'd like to give him a shot at center next year. Year one was tough coming to a new team and year two he was constantly sick/hurt. He came back a month early from his colon surgery. I'm going to take an optimistic view on him.

4th line center I assume? So do you make Kuraly 3C, re-sign Nash and move Kuraly to wing, find another 3C and move Kuraly to wing, etc.?

I'm not opposed to Backes as 4C (assuming the dream scenario of him retiring doesn't happen), but I'm not sure what it means for the other 4th line kids. And I wonder if he's fast enough (he isn't) if you wanted a 4th line to buzz around as opposed to just bigger bodies.

 

[LouJersey]

4th line center I assume? So do you make Kuraly 3C, re-sign Nash and move Kuraly to wing, find another 3C and move Kuraly to wing?

Kuraly 4th line. Both Nashes are gone.

If you somehow get Tavares then Backes will play 4C .

 

[bp13]

Kuraly 4th line. Both Nashes are gone.

If you somehow get Tavares then Backes will play 4C .

Backes at 3C???

Oh no thanks to that. We need to get stronger up the middle not go the other direction. Gotta find a better option somehow than that.

 

[LouJersey]

Backes at 3C???

Oh no thanks to that. We need to get stronger up the middle not go the other direction. Gotta find a better option somehow than that.

They may not be able to until the year following. He and Krejci call all the shots until then.

 

[bp13]

They may not be able to until the year following. He and Krejci call all the shots until then.

I agree their options are limited (unless a miraculous Backes retirement happens), but I think they have to aim higher than making David Backes your 3rd line center. I barely see him as a top 9 player any longer, let alone a center. You can't go Krejci/Backes as 2C/3C. You just can't.

 

[LouJersey]

I agree their options are limited (unless a miraculous Backes retirement happens), but I think they have to aim higher than making David Backes your 3rd line center. I barely see him as a top 9 player any longer, let alone a center. You can't go Krejci/Backes as 2C/3C. You just can't.

He's just a terrible winger though. He's a borderline healthy scratch at this point as a winger. Again, I want to be optimistic about him and maybe his colon surgery just is solely to blame. We will see

 

[bp13]

He's just a terrible winger though. He's a borderline healthy scratch at this point as a winger. Again, I want to be optimistic about him and maybe his colon surgery just is solely to blame. We will see

I like the idea of being optimistic on him but I think the simplest answer is the most likely: he's just not that good anymore. Frankly, he wasn't that great when we signed him, which is why many of us hated the signing. At this point, IMO, he's a 4th line player, which is why if you want to put him at 4C, I'd give it a shot. But I hate the idea of 3C when your 2C is on the escalator down as well. .

 

[Hali33]

There is not one small part of me that thinks Backes would consider retiring.

 

[Dr Hook]

There is not one small part of me that thinks Backes would consider retiring.

I would have to think it's dependent on the severity of this most recent concussion. He looked pretty bad coming off the ice. He's 34, had previous concussions, had colon surgery this year, has enough money to last a lifetime, a young family, and a charity he is really involved in. I think he'd be crazy not to consider hanging up the skates. Then again, pro-level athletes don't think like the rest of us in some ways. I do hope he does his future a favor and considers retirement. If not, he's going to be one hell of an expensive Noel Acciari for us

 

[Hali33]

I would have to think it's dependent on the severity of this most recent concussion. He looked pretty bad coming off the ice. He's 34, had previous concussions, had colon surgery this year, has enough money to last a lifetime, a young family, and a charity he is really involved in. I think he'd be crazy not to consider hanging up the skates. Then again, pro-level athletes don't think like the rest of us in some ways. I do hope he does his future a favor and considers retirement. If not, he's going to be one hell of an expensive Noel Acciari for us

With LTIR as an option I think it would be extremely rare to see players decide to leave many millions on the table and opt to retire early. It’s far too early to know how significant this concussion will be for him despite his history. He came back within weeks of major surgery. I would be shocked if he wouldn’t be back at it as soon as he’s cleared.

 

[Dr Hook]

With LTIR as an option

That's a great point, I forgot about the LTIR which allows him to keep getting paid. I am not up on the rules around the LTIR- how long can a player stay on that? It seems like a way to basically retire without retiring? Either way, I hope for Backes' sake as a human being, not a hockey player) that he does weigh out his options thoughtfully.

 

[TCB]

 

[Fenian24]

Tough paying a 4th line caliber player 6M. The third line giving us close to nothing was one of our biggest issues this playoff.

Backes should be the player we try to move this offseason, not Krejci.

I'll disagree. Backes, if healthy, can play anywhere from second line in a pinch to fourth line, yes he would be an overpaid 4th liner but he would still do it and contribute defensively and physically if that is what the future holds for him.

Krejci does not have a physical game, for all the complaints about Backes speed Krecji is just as slow and his effort can be questioned on many nights where Backes cannot be. Krejci is only going to get slower, he will have more difficulty controlling the pace of play while he is on the ice which is how he produces. His hand skills and vision are very good to exceptional but he needs to keep up with the play, put in a better effort, stay healthy (as does Backes) and produce as a second line center who will normally see the other teams first or second defensive unit.

Realistically it is a moot point because I can't envision either being bought out or agreeing to a trade. I believe Krecji's NMC doesn't allow a buy out but I may be wrong.

 

[Pay Carl]

Backes at 3C???

Oh no thanks to that. We need to get stronger up the middle not go the other direction. Gotta find a better option somehow than that.

33 points in 57 games in a season marred by injury and the surgery

these aren't exactly 4th liner numbers

I'm with Lou, third line center, hes a former Selke finalist and good at faceoffs

he had a really tough series, but I don't think the Backes we got the past week is the real one