Player Discussion David Backes IV

[Chief Nine]

Hornqvist is Marchand physical, not exactly a power forward but can blow guys up when they don't see it coming. but he's certainly not some kind of physical element that the Bruins lack

No he isn't, but my point was he's no slouch when it comes to getting in the dirty areas

 

[BruinDust]

I don't see them as being playoff ready. Believe it or not I don't think they have enough talent in the top 9, not just talented toughness but just pure talent. They (Sweeney) rely too much on "the kids" too make an impact and it doesn't work.

My biggest issue is with a few tweaks they could be a real contender this year. Part of that, whether you like it or believe it, is being tougher and having a real power forward in the top six, ideally 2 in the top 9. I would also like them to be in a position too not have to have David Backes taking on some of the few remaining heavyweights in the NHL because no one else is stepping up. It wouldn't be any better watching Wagner or Kuraly get rag dolled by Ferland or Kane so I would like a Simmonds or similar player there to be able to help.

Speed and skill are great, so is having some big, tough forwards willing and able to fight without fear of them getting concussed every time they drop their gloves.

Except that it does work, and every GM (including Sweeney) is relying on young players (25 and younger) to make an impact on their respective teams. You can *&^^ and moan about "the kids" all you want, but the FACT (I know you aren't fussy on those) is, you need young players to make an impact to have ANY chance of success in the cap system. Go look at the Top 50 scorers. Exactly half of them are age 25 and YOUNGER.

I'm not even sure what your complaining about. The Bruins are one of the oldest teams in the league from top to bottom with only 6 players on their 23-man roster who are age 25 and younger. Seems to me your getting exactly what you want, all kinds of veteran players.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Except that it does work, and every GM (including Sweeney) is relying on young players (25 and younger) to make an impact on their respective teams. You can *&^^ and moan about "the kids" all you want, but the FACT (I know you aren't fussy on those) is, you need young players to make an impact to have ANY chance of success in the cap system. Go look at the Top 50 scorers. Exactly half of them are age 25 and YOUNGER.

I'm not even sure what your complaining about. The Bruins are one of the oldest teams in the league from top to bottom with only 6 players on their 23-man roster who are age 25 and younger. Seems to me your getting exactly what you want, all kinds of veteran players.

But they don't have that big tough goon so he's not getting what he truly wants.

 

[Chief Nine]

But they don't have that big tough goon so he's not getting what he truly wants.

What he needs is a bloody time machine

 

[Fenian24]

Penguins won back to back Cups with guys like Guentzel, Sheary, Rust, Wilson, Kunitz, etc rotating into various spots in their top 6. They had no big, tough forwards really. And a D corps that was not nearly as deep as Boston's is today. Yes they had Crosby, Malkin & Kessel, but we have Bergy, Marchand, Pasta & Krejci.

The Bruins absolutely have the talent to go deep, it's just a matter of everyone buying in and playing well at the right time & of course staying healthy.

Crosby and Malkin are generational talents, Bergeron is close the others are very good players but not at the level of Crosby or Malkin.

Do you really take Bergeron and Krecji over Crosby and Malkin?

Going over the last ten cup winners Chicago, Boston, L.A. and Washington all had size and toughness in their forward groups. Pittsburgh is the outlier and had two superstars in Malkin and Crosby, some would say Letang as well, I don't.

Given a choice between a passive, small forward or a big, tough forward with the same skill set I always take the bigger player.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Crosby and Malkin are generational talents, Bergeron is close the others are very good players but not at the level of Crosby or Malkin.

Do you really take Bergeron and Krecji over Crosby and Malkin?

Going over the last ten cup winners Chicago, Boston, L.A. and Washington all had size and toughness in their forward groups. Pittsburgh is the outlier and had two superstars in Malkin and Crosby, some would say Letang as well, I don't.

Given a choice between a passive, small forward or a big, tough forward with the same skill set I always take the bigger player.

Given the choice of:

Passive small forward who puts up points

or

big tough forward who doesn't put up points.

Which skill set you taking?

 

[Rubber Biscuit]

The Bruins have two forwards that are small. Neither one of them is remotely passive

 

[NDiesel]

Weird time for this thread to be blowing up - I think Backes has looked much better in the past 2-3 weeks.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Not a fan of the comments by Backes according to KPD. Don't need him to risk his long term health in this "Fighter/Enforcer" role.

I hope Butch and the organization know what they are doing with this.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Not a fan of the comments by Backes according to KPD. Don't need him to risk his long term health in this "Fighter/Enforcer" role.

I hope Butch and the organization know what they are doing with this.

Why wouldn't they? I love these posts that imply the organization is run by a bunch of idiots who don't know their ass form their elbow.

 

[Sheppy]

Backes as an enforcer is absolutely laughable? What is he enforcing? Guy gets spanked in damn near every fight he’s in, and you add a concussion history to that? Yikes. That’s not good.

 

[Sheppy]

Given the choice of:

Passive small forward who puts up points

or

big tough forward who doesn't put up points.

Which skill set you taking?

It’s impossible to have a mix?

 

[Ratty]

With the injury to Majo, Backes is going to elevate his production even higher.

 

[trenton1]

I also kind of cringe when Backes drops the gloves these days, but he is one of those proud warriors that will insist on doing things his way. His contract is guaranteed which, in general, helps to prevent a guy from feeling like he needs to get totally irresponsible just to keep getting a paycheck.

 

[PB37]

Backes as an enforcer is absolutely laughable? What is he enforcing? Guy gets spanked in damn near every fight he’s in, and you add a concussion history to that? Yikes. That’s not good.

I think enforcer is a bit of a loose word here and misrepresented, obviously. Backes wants to be the first guy in to fight when the situation calls for it, ie: Going after Haley, Going after Ferlund, etc etc. The man is tougher than a two dollar steak and while it's appreciated, I'm worried about him as a human being. Being the Mick Foley of the NHL is going to hurt his brain that's already been rattled too much all too recently.

 

[prizminferno]

hockey SJWs losing their mind over Backes wanting to fight is peak 2019

 

[PB37]

hockey SJWs losing their mind over Backes wanting to fight is peak 2019

We are worried about him because of his recent concussion history. What part of that do you not get?

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Not a fan of the comments by Backes according to KPD. Don't need him to risk his long term health in this "Fighter/Enforcer" role.

I hope Butch and the organization know what they are doing with this.

With Miller not available, that's his job at the moment. It is what it is.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

hockey SJWs losing their mind over Backes wanting to fight is peak 2019

We are worried about him because of his recent concussion history. What part of that do you not get?

Apparently its ok for people to sacrifice their well being for the roar of the crowd still.

 

[GoBs]

Weird time for this thread to be blowing up - I think Backes has looked much better in the past 2-3 weeks.

Agree looks much better out there
Not 6 million better but better

 

[Sheppy]

I think enforcer is a bit of a loose word here and misrepresented, obviously. Backes wants to be the first guy in to fight when the situation calls for it, ie: Going after Haley, Going after Ferlund, etc etc. The man is tougher than a two dollar steak and while it's appreciated, I'm worried about him as a human being. Being the Mick Foley of the NHL is going to hurt his brain that's already been rattled too much all too recently.

I love the courage he’s showing. Don’t get me wrong, but it’s unfortunate that his lack of hockey skill these days have driven him into a 6 million dollar enforcer, and someone who’s terrible at it.

I’d rather him focus on trying to improve the hockey side of his game at this stage. Improve it so he’s not a liability. I’d rather him out there throwing thunderous hits than dropping the gloves with the Haleys & Ferlands and getting knocked around.

I don’t think this ends well.

 

[prizminferno]

The team needs someone to answer for goons like Ferland making runs at our finesse guys. Backes could be a good combination of physicality and potential scoring.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

It’s impossible to have a mix?

Where did I say that?

 

[Sheppy]

The team needs someone to answer for goons like Ferland making runs at our finesse guys. Backes could be a good combination of physicality and potential scoring.

How the f*** is Ferland a goon? Do people toss this word out there and just assume it correctly describes a physical player who can fight (and score)?

Also, what good does having a guy in his mid 30’s who’s a god awful fighter, with a concussion history go and get starched against the Tom Wilson’s, The Michael Ferlands etc?

He stood up? I guess that’s fine... but having him go at a guy and get trucked and put on the shelf with a head injury for 5 weeks isn’t too smart.

 

[ON3M4N]

The team needs someone to answer for goons like Ferland making runs at our finesse guys. Backes could be a good combination of physicality and potential scoring.

Ferland is no a goon, it was a clean text book hit. I would gladly take a guy like Ferland on this team.