Player Discussion David Backes IV

[KrejciMVP]

Backes is only owed 8 mil his next two seasons. He could be moved then IMO.

Definitely won't be in the NHL in 2 years

 

[Blowfish]

Definitely won't be in the NHL in 2 years

Is he playing now?

 

[Dr Hook]

I kind of hate to even post this, but I will because what the hell- it's a day off work and I am deliberately doing nothing productive and am probably having too much time to think about this sort of stuff:

When I saw Backes last night, I had a horrible flashback to Jimmy Hayes. I felt a weird twinge while watching him, and then seeing him on the powerplay as a "big body presence"- (Just read that in a post, apologies for not crediting the author properly- and it coalesced the thought.

Backes is far superior to Jimmy Hayes in a lot of ways, but I will admit to that sinking feeling coming on a little bit.

 

[Blowfish]

I kind of hate to even post this, but I will because what the hell- it's a day off work and I am deliberately doing nothing productive and am probably having too much time to think about this sort of stuff:

When I saw Backes last night, I had a horrible flashback to Jimmy Hayes. I felt a weird twinge while watching him, and then seeing him on the powerplay as a "big body presence"- (Just read that in a post, apologies for not crediting the author properly- and it coalesced the thought.

Backes is far superior to Jimmy Hayes in a lot of ways, but I will admit to that sinking feeling coming on a little bit.

Imagine how Cam, Don, and Cassidy feel. Also add Heinen Bjork and Donato.

 

[Dr Hook]

Imagine how Cam, Don, and Cassidy feel. Also add Heinen Bjork and Donato.

I know some here were critical of the cost and term at the time. I felt like it was a bit of an overpay, but it also seemed like a Beleskey kind of signing where you overpaid somewhat, but were getting something good (at least at the time). It must suck to be them realizing that the Backes they signed would basically begin to disappear in the second season of his contract, leading to where we are now. His first year here was solid, like Beleksey's. I am still hoping that he will find his game.

 

[BruinDust]

No one said that.

Where would it have gone to then?

 

[Sheppy]

Where would it have gone to then?

Not David Backes at 31-32 years old. He shouldn't have been a target at that price, term and age.

Just because they had $6M to spend, doesn't mean it had to go towards the guys you've mentioned.

 

[Blowfish]

I know some here were critical of the cost and term at the time. I felt like it was a bit of an overpay, but it also seemed like a Beleskey kind of signing where you overpaid somewhat, but were getting something good (at least at the time). It must suck to be them realizing that the Backes they signed would basically begin to disappear in the second season of his contract, leading to where we are now. His first year here was solid, like Beleksey's. I am still hoping that he will find his game.

Some questioned adding (older/slower/declining) player to the team. So for them, this is even more frustrating. A buy out next year is coming.

 

[BruinDust]

Not David Backes at 31-32 years old. He shouldn't have been a target at that price, term and age.

I'm convinced at this point that unless your chasing a real big fish on UFA day (Like Tavares), focus on smaller 1-2 year signings and stay away from the mid-range guys looking for terms 3 to 8 years long. Seems like 9 times out of 10, it ends up being a mistake.

 

[Dr Hook]

A buy out next year is coming.

I wonder- how humiliating if it happens. The Bruins would be turning into the buy-out kings

 

[Mainehockey33]

I kind of hate to even post this, but I will because what the hell- it's a day off work and I am deliberately doing nothing productive and am probably having too much time to think about this sort of stuff:

When I saw Backes last night, I had a horrible flashback to Jimmy Hayes. I felt a weird twinge while watching him, and then seeing him on the powerplay as a "big body presence"- (Just read that in a post, apologies for not crediting the author properly- and it coalesced the thought.

Backes is far superior to Jimmy Hayes in a lot of ways, but I will admit to that sinking feeling coming on a little bit.

I was thinking Beleskey but there’s not much difference. I can’t imagine what he’d look like if he hadn’t lost weight in the offseason.

 

[LSCII]

I've been a defender of Backes here for the last couple of years because he caught a lot of shit from posters, but there is really no defense of his game at this point. He's brutal. Simply terrible. Having him occupy a roster spot is a net negative.

 

[mjhfb]

I admit I also gave Backes the benefit of the doubt and thought he would be better this year.
After all, after fighting through a terrible season where he had intestinal surgery, got suspended, had his leg sliced open by a skate, and then a concussion, he still only had 3 goals less than Krejci.
Perhaps I'm old fashioned but after all that, if anyone deserves a chance (even for just a short while) to get things going its him.

 

[Dr Hook]

I've been a defender of Backes here for the last couple of years because he caught a lot of **** from posters, but there is really no defense of his game at this point. He's brutal. Simply terrible. Having him occupy a roster spot is a net negative.

And yet because he was a big ticket signing and makes what he does, he'll never see the press box if healthy. What a shame- he is a player that I have always liked, and was happy when we got him, and had very high hopes for him coming into this season after all his health issues last year.

 

[LSCII]

And yet because he was a big ticket signing and makes what he does, he'll never see the press box if healthy. What a shame- he is a player that I have always liked, and was happy when we got him, and had very high hopes for him coming into this season after all his health issues last year.

I liked him when he was in his prime, but I was against the signing from the jump. Seemed counter intuitive to sign an aging vet for a long term/big dollar contract when you were in the midst of a youth movement, and that's not even factoring in the guy declining through the life of that contract. I'm pretty sure that they envisioned him being the big body, physical player to ride wing on Krejci's line, but that obviously was not a good fit and now they're stuck with him. To me, this is all just another failed attempt at finding someone who compliments DK. It's why going out and trying to find a player to help one guy is misguided. You find a player that can fill a role on the team, not just to get a single guy going.

 

[Dr Hook]

To me, this is all just another failed attempt at finding someone who compliments DK. It's why going out and trying to find a player to help one guy is misguided. You find a player that can fill a role on the team, not just to get a single guy going.

The eternal quest to find another Lucic/Horton to play with Krejci . . . To be fair to the Bruins, I think they felt they were getting a quality center out of Backes too who could play in the middle up and down the lineup when needed. That has not worked out either.

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

Where would it have gone to then?

I dunno. If only one guy, Eric Staal? But he could've made smaller deals, or no deals at all. DS just makes a bunch of dumb deals. Backes is the new Beleskey.

Watching last night, again, we're a decent team, but, like in other games I watch, I find myself getting nervous when anyone other than the first line is out there on the ice. Our other three lines are very shaky. Without changes, again, we'll be an easy-t0-defend one line team and will get shut down in the post season.

 

[UncleRico]

I said it at the time of the signing and I’ll say it now. Signing Lee Stempniak to a two year deal with less $$ would have been much better than signing backes to a 5 year deal.

 

[22Brad Park]

I dunno. If only one guy, Eric Staal? But he could've made smaller deals, or no deals at all. DS just makes a bunch of dumb deals. Backes is the new Beleskey.

Watching last night, again, we're a decent team, but, like in other games I watch, I find myself getting nervous when anyone other than the first line is out there on the ice. Our other three lines are very shaky. Without changes, again, we'll be an easy-t0-defend one line team and will get shut down in the post season.

Got to get to the post season first.If anyone goes down on top line big trouble.I watched Backes last nite close.He works hard and is smart .Just a bit slow.I would rather him in front of net on powerplay though then Bjork out there helping other team clear it anyday.

 

[BruinDust]

I dunno. If only one guy, Eric Staal? But he could've made smaller deals, or no deals at all. DS just makes a bunch of dumb deals. Backes is the new Beleskey.

Watching last night, again, we're a decent team, but, like in other games I watch, I find myself getting nervous when anyone other than the first line is out there on the ice. Our other three lines are very shaky. Without changes, again, we'll be an easy-t0-defend one line team and will get shut down in the post season.

My preference in hindsight would of been no deals. And I fully admit I loved the Backes signing, but thought he was brought in to be a center 80% of the time, which wasn't the case.

 

[GoBs]

As some have said the entire line is horrible its not just Backes. What is surprising is the Bruins being so caught off guard with the third line center and now the rest of the line. I think they all need 10 in Providence to play a bunch.

 

[UncleRico]

As some have said the entire line is horrible its not just Backes. What is surprising is the Bruins being so caught off guard with the third line center and now the rest of the line. I think they all need 10 in Providence to play a bunch.

How have they been caught off guard with third line center? They’ve known for months that Riley Nash wasn’t coming back and they chose to sign two fourth line players in Nordstrom and Wagner over signing someone to play the 3rd line center.

It’s not like this team experienced a devastating injury just before the season started to a center. They knew that 3rd line center was an issue, management just did nothing to fix it.

 

[BruinDust]

How have they been caught off guard with third line center? They’ve known for months that Riley Nash wasn’t coming back and they chose to sign two fourth line players in Nordstrom and Wagner over signing someone to play the 3rd line center.

It’s not like this team experienced a devastating injury just before the season started to a center. They knew that 3rd line center was an issue, management just did nothing to fix it.

Well the UFA pool for 3rd line or above centers wasn't exactly strong.

I'm glad they didn't hand out 3-year deals to the likes of Bozak, Stastny, or Riley Nash.

 

[KrejciMVP]

The eternal quest to find another Lucic/Horton to play with Krejci . . . To be fair to the Bruins, I think they felt they were getting a quality center out of Backes too who could play in the middle up and down the lineup when needed. That has not worked out either.

more likely Krejci finds that getting the heck away from this management group

 

[Dr Hook]

more likely Krejci finds that getting the heck away from this management group

That would be ideal for all of us- even you because you'd get to watch your guy really put up the points on a team built for him.