If I'm David Backes, I would think to myself "how much money do I need? I'm a team captain, a local hero, I have a home in St. Louis and I'm already a rich man by most men's standards. Why not finish my career in St. Louis and not squeeze the franchise for a deal that makes them pay for me when I'm a liability on the ice?"
That's literally what every fan of every major star that becomes an FA at some point in their town thinks at one point. Reality is, some people go for the money or the glory. Theres no glory in STL. Historically or with the media. Look at Elliott and Allen. They were easily the best tandem all season, put them on MTL or TOR and they would be getting so much hype and publicity. Subban makes a big donation to a charity, its all over TSN. Backes saving stray dogs in Russia and finding homes for them in STL... nobody cared except local media.
My point is, everyone is different. Some guys will take a discount to stay with the team they have been a part of from the beginning, some will run for $, some run for a different team with a better chance, some run for glory... etc.
Backes seemed to me like a guy that would stay in STL and have a deal done by now. But he doesn't have a deal done yet and looks like he wants to see what FA will do for him. Hes gone.