Player Discussion David Backes IV

[CharasLazyWrister]

I think everyone’s standards have been lowered significantly for Backes, but to be completely truthful, he has been “good”/effective since joining the fourth line. He is playing against lesser competition, but he also seems to have more speed than I have seen in quite some time for him.

Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

is it a bad contract? of course

but Im not about to fault a player for that, not like he's going to turn down $30 million.

I also give him a ton of credit. He isnt just sitting and collecting a paycheck. He busts his ass every time out there and always gives it his all. He also plays hurt and puts himself through hell at times to stay on the ice.

 

[Kalus]

is it a bad contract? of course

but Im not about to fault a player for that, not like he's going to turn down $30 million.

I also give him a ton of credit. He isnt just sitting and collecting a paycheck. He busts his ass every time out there and always gives it his all. He also plays hurt and puts himself through hell at times to stay on the ice.

His intangibles have never been in question. Top of the class in that respect.

The contract was doomed to fail and I think most people knew it. I have been wrong about signings and extensions many times, but was confident in this one.

In today's NHL, with rare exception, you just can't give term into a guy's mid-30s, especially for a guy who plays a very physical style.

This is in part why the John Moore signing was a good one. They bought his prime years.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

His intangibles have never been in question. Top of the class in that respect.

The contract was doomed to fail and I think most people knew it. I have been wrong about signings and extensions many times, but was confident in this one.

In today's NHL, with rare exception, you just can't give term into a guy's mid-30s, especially for a guy who plays a very physical style.

This is in part why the John Moore signing was a good one. They bought his prime years.

fully agree. I hated the signing from day 1 as well for the same reasons.

especially since it was directly after they dumped Lucic because "paying a physical player $6+ a year beyond age 30 is bad"

 

[GoBs]

fully agree. I hated the signing from day 1 as well for the same reasons.

especially since it was directly after they dumped Lucic because "paying a physical player $6+ a year beyond age 30 is bad"

And Lucic was only 28

 

[PlayMakers]

Yes , I would like to see that against the Leafs . We aren’t beating Toronto tomorrow unless Pasta and Marchand wake up . I think they could use a big body on that line .

Backes attempted 7 shots against TO, 5 on net. He’s come around (finally) and with Bergeron down its time to give him some more responsibility.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Backes attempted 7 shots against TO, 5 on net. He’s come around (finally) and with Bergeron down its time to give him some more responsibility.

I don’t know if it’s a good idea to move him up even though he’s playing a lot better. The 4th line was pretty bad before Backes was put on it, I don’t think Kuraly can carry a line himself. I think ideally you want Nordstrom, Kuraly and Backes on the 4th, and either hope one of Donato, Senyshyn or Frederic come up and make an impact or trade for someone to play 3C.

 

[mattw4466]

Backes attempted 7 shots against TO, 5 on net. He’s come around (finally) and with Bergeron down its time to give him some more responsibility.

He seems to regularly get quite a few decent chances, he can get the puck in scoring range he just can’t score, it’s kind of a shame. But he still has that game sense where he gets the puck in good spots.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

Backes play has improved.

I still got a feeling that before this is all said and done, he'll play a big part in a Bruins Cup win and retire with his ring.

 

[JRull86]

fully agree. I hated the signing from day 1 as well for the same reasons.

especially since it was directly after they dumped Lucic because "paying a physical player $6+ a year beyond age 30 is bad"

I agree, but Lucic and Backes were/are very different players. Both were physical, but Lucic definitely played a heavier game in his prime.

Backes has 47 NHL fights, Lucic has 80. If you count juniors and AHL, Backes is up to 55, while Lucic skyrockets to 140.

Didn't love the Backes deal, but gun to my head I had to choose one of those two players to sign for 5+ years when they were both available, it'd be Backes 100 out of 100.

 

[JRull86]

To piggy back off of that a little bit more as well, I think realistically Sweeney saw the opportunity to bring in an outside respected vet who still had something left in the tank knowing full well in a year or two he'd have an influx of youth coming.

Those types of players are invaluable to a team that is relying on a youth movement in terms of a leadership and professional perspective.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I agree, but Lucic and Backes were/are very different players. Both were physical, but Lucic definitely played a heavier game in his prime.

Backes has 47 NHL fights, Lucic has 80. If you count juniors and AHL, Backes is up to 55, while Lucic skyrockets to 140.

Didn't love the Backes deal, but gun to my head I had to choose one of those two players to sign for 5+ years when they were both available, it'd be Backes 100 out of 100.

maybe so, but a handful of fights per season wont make much of a difference in wear and tear. They both had roughly the same # of hits and minutes which is more about breaking down.

either way, it was a hypocritical disaster to move on from a beloved, "if you could build a Bruin" type in Lucic and sell it to the fans on the reasoning of "its not prudent to pay aging power forwards big money for long term"

then immediately do exactly that signing Backes to the same deal despite him being 4 years older. Dont forget at that time Lucic was 28 and Backes 32.

All Im saying is short of magically turning into the 2nd coming of Cam Neely, Sweeney/management set Backes up to be a lightning rod for frustration from day 1

 

[BruinDust]

maybe so, but a handful of fights per season wont make much of a difference in wear and tear. They both had roughly the same # of hits and minutes which is more about breaking down.

either way, it was a hypocritical disaster to move on from a beloved, "if you could build a Bruin" type in Lucic and sell it to the fans on the reasoning of "its not prudent to pay aging power forwards big money for long term"

then immediately do exactly that signing Backes to the same deal despite him being 4 years older. Dont forget at that time Lucic was 28 and Backes 32.

All Im saying is short of magically turning into the 2nd coming of Cam Neely, Sweeney/management set Backes up to be a lightning rod for frustration from day 1

When exactly did the Bruins management come out in public and make this statement?

 

[bp13]

Backes attempted 7 shots against TO, 5 on net. He’s come around (finally) and with Bergeron down its time to give him some more responsibility.

Disagree Bill.

He’s finally found a water level where he can look the part of a decent NHL player. I leave him on that 4th line and take what you can get. You start moving him up the pecking order and you diminish the value of your faster, skilled guys and you line him up against better dmen who will easily cover him. He’s now a 4th line NHL player and I think we should be excited that he’s able to give us that. Clearly he was a brutal signing, but at least not a lost cause as of today. Leave him where he is.

 

[PlayMakers]

Disagree Bill.

He’s finally found a water level where he can look the part of a decent NHL player. I leave him on that 4th line and take what you can get. You start moving him up the pecking order and you diminish the value of your faster, skilled guys and you line him up against better dmen who will easily cover him. He’s now a 4th line NHL player and I think we should be excited that he’s able to give us that. Clearly he was a brutal signing, but at least not a lost cause as of today. Leave him where he is.

Maybe, maybe not. He scored at a 50 point pace just last year, and had a 4 point game between our two fastest forwards. I don’t see any harm in trying him there again for a game. Worst case scenario, you put him back on the 4th line. Best case scenario he plays well enough to solve our 3C issue.

 

[BruinDust]

Maybe, maybe not. He scored at a 50 point pace just last year, and had a 4 point game between our two fastest forwards. I don’t see any harm in trying him there again for a game. Worst case scenario, you put him back on the 4th line. Best case scenario he plays well enough to solve our 3C issue.

With Bergeron out, if they aren't using Krejci inbetween 63 and 88, then there is no harm in trying Backes there. They've tried JFK and Cave now to limited success. Why not give Backes a look there?

 

[Kalus]

I only see the Oilers when they play the Bruins. Anybody who sees them fairly regularly:

Who is playing better between Backes and Lucic? Would you do an even-up swap if given the opportunity (and accounting for years left on contract).

 

[Mainehockey33]

I only see the Oilers when they play the Bruins. Anybody who sees them fairly regularly:

Who is playing better between Backes and Lucic? Would you do an even-up swap if given the opportunity (and accounting for years left on contract).

I haven’t seen much of the Oilers, but Lucic was playing a physical game early on in the season and looked better to me than Backes did. Now that Backes is playing closer to where he was last year, I’d take Backes.

 

[DKH]

Congrats to Backes for almost getting goals in 3 straight games

I used to think almost didn’t matter until the Bruins and Sweeney got a shitty free agent signing grade for only getting Halak, Moore, Nordstrom, and Wagner BUT the Lightning got a better grade for ALMOST getting Erik Karlsson

Congrats David, almost does matter

 

[ap3lovr]

Seems he is starting to think the game at a fast pace again. He still seems to be chasing the cycle a bit, but it is typically a long road back to 100% from concussions and I think he is starting to turn that corner.

 

[KlausJopling]

I don’t think Backes problem is that he can’t play in the top 6. I think he just plays better on a line that dumps and chases which Krejci lines really don’t do. Playing him with Kuraly works because it’s just a style that works for Backes even when they play against top lines. They've pretty much been the third line since they’ve been put together. And unless they make a trade or someone from the AHL comes up and can be usueful as a center. I think Backes-kursly and whoever they are with has the ability to match a teams top 2 lines. They won’t score. But theyll do what they have been. Winning most of there shifts.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

I only see the Oilers when they play the Bruins. Anybody who sees them fairly regularly:

Who is playing better between Backes and Lucic? Would you do an even-up swap if given the opportunity (and accounting for years left on contract).

lucic might be turning the corner in Edmonton... Hitchcock is giving him some faith... and has slid him down to a '4th line' with the other bangers on the team. basically the line has been told go out for 10-12 mins a night and throw your weight around

the talk is they expect lucic to get his confidence rebuilt by doing what he does best... and then the hope is he will find a scoring touch later. sort of like the beginning of his career when he entered the league as a bottom 6 guy what was hellbent on seek and destroy missions and then just naturally found a scoring touch once everyone gave him room

contract wise... its still not close. backes is the the better signing. backes is a better locker room guy. backes is a better defensive player. but lucic can still install the fear of god into opposition players when hes on his A game. if I was in the playoffs and I could choose which guy I wanted it would be lucic. for regular season though backes is a lot better guy to have around a bunch of kids

 

[bearcountry17]

3-3-6 in his last 12 games. If Backes can keep around half a point per game it will be huge for our secondary scoring. I'm rooting for the guy.

 

[bob27]

I've been pretty hard on him, but he has actually looked like a decent hockey player lately. I think he has been away from Wagner/Kuraly/Acciari more, which might explain his offensive uptick.

 

[Blowfish]

He's playing much much better. Skating seemed to have improved and actually creating scoring chances. Good to see.