- Jan 11, 2006
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You need to keep the centers playing center. That was the point. Backes, Bergeron, and Krejci at center. Fill in the rest.
Player Discussion David Backes
- Thread starter Fenway
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You need to keep the centers playing center. That was the point. Backes, Bergeron, and Krejci at center. Fill in the rest.
northeastern
Registered User
I don't see the reasons to be negative. He plays Boston hockey and his injury history didn't scare me at all.
Well one reason to be negative is that we signed a guy for 6 million a year, and he's on pace for less than 40 points in year one, despite ample playing time and PP time. I know people care a ton about his intangibles, but when you get paid like that you need to provide hard production as well.
He's got a couple goals in the last couple games, lets hope he swings things forward. Because if he keeps up his current pace, it will go down as one of the worst signings in recent Bruins history.
He's got a couple goals in the last couple games, lets hope he swings things forward. Because if he keeps up his current pace, it will go down as one of the worst signings in recent Bruins history.
Backes has played very well this year. The points will come and he'll end up with his usual 50ish, which he's not too far off from in regards to pacing. Where his true value comes is not in hard production but in versatility. He's an all situations player and he gets a solid B+ from me so far this year.
TimThomas24
Registered User
- Jun 13, 2013
- 1,205
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That's where I'm at with him.
I like him as a player and I think he's critical to the team. He isn't exceeding my expectations but he is basically doing what I hoped he would do.
Are points all you look at? Two points in his next game bumps him up to a 50 point pace. It's silly to look at what guys are pacing for still early in the season.
I guess we will have to see how the year plays out before we really know who was a better fit here : Backes or Loui . Personally, I am kind of undecided . I like Backes physicality but wish his skill level was higher . He isn't the greatest skater in the world which wouldn't matter if Krejci is on his game like he was today . He doesn't seem like he can create some offence on his own like Bergeron , Marchand or Krejci .
Ice Nine
Registered User
Is that confirmed? I thought that was why he wouldnt budge on his asking price and 'could' play hardball, but if Boston gave him what he wants, I thought he'd sign?
Is all you do look at points?
I don't know if people realize, the main purposes of a hockey game is to score goals/points and to prevent goals.
Everything else is far less important than these two attributes especially when you are a top six forward.
I don't know if people realize, the main purposes of a hockey game is to score goals/points and to prevent goals.
Everything else is far less important than these two attributes especially when you are a top six forward.
That kind of backfired so far,but; I know they talked to Backes about playing wing since it was a first line wing they were losing. They valued his versatility and physicality and leadership,but in my opinion they should have been looking for a direct replacement,a front line wing,and kept Spooner at center..
ODAAT
Registered User
I hear ya, it`s funny, while I get paying a player strictly for intangibles they may bring to the table isn`t wise, I listen to interviews with players/coaches where they are speaking about various players (not just speaking about the Bruins) and so many of these conversations they mention all the "small things" player A,B or C is doing/does to help the team as being so important yet here............it`s virtually unnoticed or recognized as having one ounce of importance
I don`t know, maybe I have the rose colored glasses on but I freaking love the way Backes brings "it" every shift
Alberta_OReilly_Fan
Bruin fan since 1975
I see a lot of debate about styles of players... not only here but in general. its more these days with analytics
I never played nhl... but ive certainly heard 1000s of nhl players do interviews. I don't think I ever heard one say leadership doesn't matter. I don't think ive ever heard one say that being team tough isn't a benefit.
ive definitely heard many many many many players say that the locker room needs more leadership... that the team has to stand up for each other more...
of course goals for matter... offense matters... but ive seen hundreds of players be ppg scorers and 4 years later they are out of the league because they score their points in a very weak way.
I mean we remember a player like vladamir rudizcka... a Dimitri kvaltalnov... a craig janney... a jimmy carson... a petr klima... and so many more... wonderfully skilled point producers that were attempted to be used on a first line for a season or two...
and then you just saw that your team cant win with these guys. it is possible to score 30-40-50 goals and still hurt your team
teams will always try to find a way to let super character guys play... even if they cant score... because super character guys help a team. our merlot line with thornton and Campbell and paille wasn't going to score more than 25 goals a season between all 3 of them but they owned their 9-10 mins of icetime because they could stop the other team from scoring. they were willing to play team tough hockey. they were character stand up guys in the locker room
now as for backes... hes a much more skiled version of this who does score... but his value is far and above how much he scores because he has this time tested attribute of being good in the locker room and team tough.
yes... it does matter.
honestly ive never heard anyone talk about louie Eriksson being a leader... ive certainly never seen him help his team be team tough. its not to say hes useless on the ice. hes a very smart defensive player that rarely gets out of position. and he can score when hes in a contract year.
louie wanted too much money for what he brings to the ice. it isn't even a question of is backes better... because louie isn't good enough to be worth 6 mill. if louie would have resigned for 3 years and 4.5 I still would have been luke warm about bringing him back.
his analytics might be ok... but his teams in dallas lost with him... his teams in boston lost with him... his team in Vancouver is losing with him
you need more to win than just some analytic numbers... you need to be a team that can survive the trenches... buckle down when the going gets tough... fight through adversity... make an effort pretty much every night
backes has done these things his whole career. hes a modern day terry oreilly. someone that gets more out of his skills than you might expect because he works hard... competes hard...
I wanted backes on our team for nearly a decade... made several fantasy proposals over the years trying to get backes on the team. I wish he hadn't been hurt in the early going here. his numbers aren't impressive so hes drawing some heat... but this is a guy like bill gueren or Brenden shanahan or keith tkachuk that doesn't need to run people over every shift to be effective. big bodied guys with good hands do stay effective until their late 30's. mike knuble... john leclair... shane doan... even glen murray... if you got size and don't get injured you can still be a 30 goal scorer at age 35 and beyond
the history for success for soft europeons is a lot harder to find. really elite guys like teemu selanne can be successful... pavel datsyuk... but guys like esa tikkanen, jere lehtinen, jan erixxon, pj axelsson... good 2 way guys that had a bit of offensive success in the mid 20's have traditionally fallen off the face of the earth at around age 30
I don't think louie Eriksson was ever elitely skilled... I think he had decent skill and was smart... but not big... not super fast... he was just a smart guy who is going to lose a step of speed at 30 like everyone else.
it was the right thing for the team to do... not to give Eriksson a 5 year deal. and I think its the right thing to do to give backes one. I'm on record... people can tell me I'm full of crap in 3 years if this blows up in our face... but for now backes is our guy and as our guy, I hope we support him
as fans... its our job to support these guys
I never played nhl... but ive certainly heard 1000s of nhl players do interviews. I don't think I ever heard one say leadership doesn't matter. I don't think ive ever heard one say that being team tough isn't a benefit.
ive definitely heard many many many many players say that the locker room needs more leadership... that the team has to stand up for each other more...
of course goals for matter... offense matters... but ive seen hundreds of players be ppg scorers and 4 years later they are out of the league because they score their points in a very weak way.
I mean we remember a player like vladamir rudizcka... a Dimitri kvaltalnov... a craig janney... a jimmy carson... a petr klima... and so many more... wonderfully skilled point producers that were attempted to be used on a first line for a season or two...
and then you just saw that your team cant win with these guys. it is possible to score 30-40-50 goals and still hurt your team
teams will always try to find a way to let super character guys play... even if they cant score... because super character guys help a team. our merlot line with thornton and Campbell and paille wasn't going to score more than 25 goals a season between all 3 of them but they owned their 9-10 mins of icetime because they could stop the other team from scoring. they were willing to play team tough hockey. they were character stand up guys in the locker room
now as for backes... hes a much more skiled version of this who does score... but his value is far and above how much he scores because he has this time tested attribute of being good in the locker room and team tough.
yes... it does matter.
honestly ive never heard anyone talk about louie Eriksson being a leader... ive certainly never seen him help his team be team tough. its not to say hes useless on the ice. hes a very smart defensive player that rarely gets out of position. and he can score when hes in a contract year.
louie wanted too much money for what he brings to the ice. it isn't even a question of is backes better... because louie isn't good enough to be worth 6 mill. if louie would have resigned for 3 years and 4.5 I still would have been luke warm about bringing him back.
his analytics might be ok... but his teams in dallas lost with him... his teams in boston lost with him... his team in Vancouver is losing with him
you need more to win than just some analytic numbers... you need to be a team that can survive the trenches... buckle down when the going gets tough... fight through adversity... make an effort pretty much every night
backes has done these things his whole career. hes a modern day terry oreilly. someone that gets more out of his skills than you might expect because he works hard... competes hard...
I wanted backes on our team for nearly a decade... made several fantasy proposals over the years trying to get backes on the team. I wish he hadn't been hurt in the early going here. his numbers aren't impressive so hes drawing some heat... but this is a guy like bill gueren or Brenden shanahan or keith tkachuk that doesn't need to run people over every shift to be effective. big bodied guys with good hands do stay effective until their late 30's. mike knuble... john leclair... shane doan... even glen murray... if you got size and don't get injured you can still be a 30 goal scorer at age 35 and beyond
the history for success for soft europeons is a lot harder to find. really elite guys like teemu selanne can be successful... pavel datsyuk... but guys like esa tikkanen, jere lehtinen, jan erixxon, pj axelsson... good 2 way guys that had a bit of offensive success in the mid 20's have traditionally fallen off the face of the earth at around age 30
I don't think louie Eriksson was ever elitely skilled... I think he had decent skill and was smart... but not big... not super fast... he was just a smart guy who is going to lose a step of speed at 30 like everyone else.
it was the right thing for the team to do... not to give Eriksson a 5 year deal. and I think its the right thing to do to give backes one. I'm on record... people can tell me I'm full of crap in 3 years if this blows up in our face... but for now backes is our guy and as our guy, I hope we support him
as fans... its our job to support these guys
ODAAT
Registered User
Alberta_OReilly_Fan
Bruin fan since 1975
id probably argue playoffs in the nhl now are a very competitive thing. parity was sought and achieved
the best player in the nhl Sydney Crosby often sees his team go out in the first round
our cup winning team here in boston was in overtime game 7 of the first round 1 goal away from elimination
la and Chicago have seen first round defeats in recent years... required 7 games to advance in cup years...
my feeling about 1 player being able to make a difference at playoff time unless hes a goalie... is very limited.
I look at the long draining process of the regular season for when leadership makes a differce. I look to guys who can turn around lengthy losing streaks by example... who can protect the kids development... who can make sure the team doesn't mutiny on the coach...
this is where everyone talks about leadership and character.
I mean even wayne gretzky got eliminated in the first round a few times...
almost everyone is a leader at playoff time... when we were in the playoffs we had probably 20 leaders... if you cant be a leader at playoff time something is seriously wrong with you
I understand that there is some value to intangibles, and the fact that Backes can be deployed on the PK and PP is important. But I have yet to see him look like anything more than an average defensive forward (although watching Bergy night in night out sets my standards high).
I do think the leadership problem on the Bruins has been overrated (and somewhat tied to the lingering bitterness over Shawn Thornton). I think it was a scapegoat used to distract from the fact that the depth on the roster has dwindled, the team has struggled to develop players, and particularly last season Tuukka struggled. All of those are much bigger reasons this team hasn't made the playoffs. Not the fact that no one was yelling in the locker room.
Sadly, I don't see the team any better with that depth this year. The middle 6 of the team has at best looked average, and most nights looks outright bad.
I rip on Backes a lot more than anyone else, and this is mostly out of fun, because in the end I think he's been alright so far. But if you think his contract isn't going to be an albatross hurting this team in 3 seasons you are a fool.
Also, if the Bruins were gonna spend 6 million a season on a UFA this offseason, I wish they would have brought Lucic back. I think he offers everything Backes does, but younger and a more proven playoff performer. Also, he fights legit guys, not just picking on smaller guys the way Backes does
I do think the leadership problem on the Bruins has been overrated (and somewhat tied to the lingering bitterness over Shawn Thornton). I think it was a scapegoat used to distract from the fact that the depth on the roster has dwindled, the team has struggled to develop players, and particularly last season Tuukka struggled. All of those are much bigger reasons this team hasn't made the playoffs. Not the fact that no one was yelling in the locker room.
Sadly, I don't see the team any better with that depth this year. The middle 6 of the team has at best looked average, and most nights looks outright bad.
I rip on Backes a lot more than anyone else, and this is mostly out of fun, because in the end I think he's been alright so far. But if you think his contract isn't going to be an albatross hurting this team in 3 seasons you are a fool.
Also, if the Bruins were gonna spend 6 million a season on a UFA this offseason, I wish they would have brought Lucic back. I think he offers everything Backes does, but younger and a more proven playoff performer. Also, he fights legit guys, not just picking on smaller guys the way Backes does
Would you like me to spell out in smaller wotds the obvious intent of my post? I thought i had made it pretty clear.
- Jun 14, 2010
- 11,117
- 15,758
I like Backes and what he has brought to the team so far, the fact that his signing ended the Loui nightmare is just a bonus. Backes is a solid top 6 forward on a team that is much more worried about preventing goals than scoring.
Much bigger issues on this team to worry about than David Backes. How about Krecji looking over matched in almost every game this season? How about a bottom six (besides Dominic Moore) who are pretty much space fillers? Still need a top 4 D and a top 6 forward, Backes isn't an issue.
Much bigger issues on this team to worry about than David Backes. How about Krecji looking over matched in almost every game this season? How about a bottom six (besides Dominic Moore) who are pretty much space fillers? Still need a top 4 D and a top 6 forward, Backes isn't an issue.
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