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Player Discussion David Backes

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LSCII said:
Agreed. Putting him on the wing with MB and centered by DK is a waste of time. Give DK players that compliment his game and style and let Backes play his natural spot at center. My fear is that won't happen though because of the weak RW options, like you mentioned.
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What are your thoughts on Beleskey and Backes on the third line? Maybe playing with Nash or Hayes (or MAYBE Griffith) on the right? And trying Vatrano and Pastrnak with Krejci? Not sure if Vatrano is ready for top-six competition/minutes, but I like his style. I do have the same concerns for Pastrnak, but he's a very creative player. I'd like for Spooner to be able to transition to his off-wing and play with Bergeron and Marchand. Maybe in a dream world, but perhaps worth another look? Or maybe to his LW and play with Krejci? Gah, I like the forwards we have but the lack of RW depth leaves a lot of question marks.
 
ORR2Sanderson2ORR said:
On an NHL Radio network interview he said that he was told he would be playing center but under some circumstance he would be moved to wing.
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Thats what I posted. In the link. It was during his Bruins conf call. Except that they see him as a wing.
Hes open to both depending on playing heavy or not. As well as how some of the younger guys are playing.
 
i finally got around to looking at backes comparables for length of career

the guys i searched were
brenden shanahan
bill guerin
keith tkchuk
glen murray
mike knuble
john leclair
joel otto

physical players... but not like lindros or neely or lucic where they run people over.

these big body guys were all scoring at normal career average at 35-36. none became injury prone before that. a couple of these guys were still 40 goal scorers at 37-38

theses other big strong men who arent as physical like mats sundin and jaromir jagr and joe thornton who remain productive until 38-39-40

mark messier and gordie howe played physical big man hockey.

if a guy is a legitimate 30 goal talent... history shows he remains a 30 goal talent until his late 30's if he has 6'2 6'3 size and 220-230 pounds

i cant find any examples off the top of my head where this style of player breaks down earlier unless there is injuries like neely/ lindros and id argue they arent the same style player. i dont think backes tries to run people over like they did
 
i remember little arguements in st louis where he clearly wanted to play center... but he is a pro and i do expect he will accept wing.

but if a guy isnt happy at a position it will reflect in his play. federov was willing to play defense but it upset him. hall tried center but it upset him. the smart move is to keep guys happy
 
Alberta_OReilly_Fan said:
i remember little arguements in st louis where he clearly wanted to play center... but he is a pro and i do expect he will accept wing.

but if a guy isnt happy at a position it will reflect in his play. federov was willing to play defense but it upset him. hall tried center but it upset him. the smart move is to keep guys happy
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If playing center ice was a real concern for Backes, he wouldn't have signed on with a team who has five with Bergeron, Krejci and Spooner 1, 2 & 3.

I think he underatands where he fits on the roster and that will primarily be on the right side with two of the league's best forwards as his linemates.
 
WBC8 said:
Same. As a fan he's the exact type player I want to wear the spoked B. Now I wouldn't love his term or contract on my SIM team, but he makes the team more fun to watch no doubt.

I DO NOT however want to see he and Beleskey on the same line with Krejci. I'd like to see Backes in the middle with Spooner on the left side, but our RW are pretty weak.
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I do think Backes here makes Spooner expendable in a trade to boost the D line. I'd love to see him on the third line with Beleskey and I'm even warming up to the idea of Hayes on Backes' right in an effort to jump start Hayes' game. Here's my lineup projections with production numbers rounded off. The fourth line will most likely see a rotation of guys in and out until we find players who work well with Nash, who I can see playing on the third line from time to time if and when Hayes is being Hayes. I think there will a healthy competition in camp for the open spots on the 4th. I do like the idea of a Schaller/Nash combo. Nash has pretty good possession numbers ( one of the reasons why we picked him up ) and Schaller has good size and a former college defensive player of the year.


Marchand -- Bergeron -- Vesey
(30/30/60) (25/40/65) (15/25/40)


Vatrano -- Krejci -- Pastrnak
(20/20/40) (20/50/70) (25/30/55)


Beleskey -- Backes -- Hayes
(20/25/45) (20/30/50) (15/15/30)


Schaller -- Nash -- Ferlin
(5/5/10) (10/20/30) (5/5/10)
 
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Greek_physique said:
Just some fun stats.

# 42 has been worn 12 times in Boston....let's hope he does better than the rest ;)

Bob Sweeney 1987-1989
Mike Millar 1990
John Byce 1990-1992
Brent Hughes 1992-1993
Mikko Makela 1995
Tim Sweeney 1996-1997
Mike Sullivan 1998
Peter Ferraro 1999-2000
P.J. Stock 2002-2004
Pascal Pelletier 2008
Blake Wheeler 2009
Trent Whitfield 2010-2012
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Stumpel- Murray -Hughes :)

I like Backes as a player. He may be worn out by the end of his contract but no sense in stressing about that now.
 
VeddarRants said:
I do think Backes here makes Spooner expendable in a trade to boost the D line. I'd love to see him on the third line with Beleskey and I'm even warming up to the idea of Hayes on Backes' right in an effort to jump start Hayes' game. Here's my lineup projections with production numbers rounded off. The fourth line will most likely see a rotation of guys in and out until we find players who work well with Nash, who I can see playing on the third line from time to time if and when Hayes is being Hayes. I think there will a healthy competition in camp for the open spots on the 4th. I do like the idea of a Schaller/Nash combo. Nash has pretty good possession numbers ( one of the reasons why we picked him up ) and Schaller has good size and a former college defensive player of the year.


Marchand -- Bergeron -- Vesey
(30/30/60) (25/40/65) (15/25/40)


Vatrano -- Krejci -- Pastrnak
(20/20/40) (20/50/70) (25/30/55)


Beleskey -- Backes -- Hayes
(20/25/45) (20/30/50) (15/15/30)


Schaller -- Nash -- Ferlin
(5/5/10) (10/20/30) (5/5/10)
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If you move out Spooner, I hope Czarnik gets a chance. Beleksey Backes Hayes is a plodding line.
 
The Zapper said:
What are your thoughts on Beleskey and Backes on the third line? Maybe playing with Nash or Hayes (or MAYBE Griffith) on the right? And trying Vatrano and Pastrnak with Krejci? Not sure if Vatrano is ready for top-six competition/minutes, but I like his style. I do have the same concerns for Pastrnak, but he's a very creative player. I'd like for Spooner to be able to transition to his off-wing and play with Bergeron and Marchand. Maybe in a dream world, but perhaps worth another look? Or maybe to his LW and play with Krejci? Gah, I like the forwards we have but the lack of RW depth leaves a lot of question marks.
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I think that line would have a lot of grit and be tough to play against for a lot of teams, the big question I have is whether or not Beleskey has enough skill to compliment Backes. My fear is that he doesn't and that he'd drag down Backes' production. I like the Vatrano story too, but I'm not sure he's a first line player. I'm not sold on his production being real or if it's just one of those anomalies that happen from time to time. It's worth a shot in camp, and they can always change it if he falls back to earth. I'm also concerned about how DK looks coming off another hip surgery. Hopefully he comes back strong, because the B's are on the hook for a lot of money owed to him and they need him at 100%.
 
Tim Vezina Thomas said:
I think its got bigger, stronger and less skilled.

If we have Krejci, Backes and Spooner on the roster next season i truly do not understand this signing.
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Read earlier in the paper today that Bruins are trying to trade Krejci.

I would put it more in the form of "offering" in trade for a defenseman.
 
I liked the comment made on the latest three amigo's podcast about Pasta growing a few inches and several pounds heavier playing with Backes around. That's an excellent point that shouldn't be overlooked.

I also have really liked Backes' comments about commitment, playing for team, playing with pride, etc.

I know we need defense but that's a known issue and a separate one at that.

We've missed the Recchi, Thornton, Ference grit and leadership around here. Adding Backes provides a lot of that team toughness (not necessarily fighting -- more of the willingness to play through kidney stones) quotient around this team.
 
Pasta La Vista said:
It could happen, but it would be perceived as an overpayment, because it probably would have to be.
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He's damaged goods. They'd have to add or eat salary just to move him. He's worth more to Boston than he would be to another team because of it. And I'm fine keeping him. We know what he can be here when healthy.
 
LSCII said:
I think that line would have a lot of grit and be tough to play against for a lot of teams, the big question I have is whether or not Beleskey has enough skill to compliment Backes. My fear is that he doesn't and that he'd drag down Backes' production. I like the Vatrano story too, but I'm not sure he's a first line player. I'm not sold on his production being real or if it's just one of those anomalies that happen from time to time. It's worth a shot in camp, and they can always change it if he falls back to earth. I'm also concerned about how DK looks coming off another hip surgery. Hopefully he comes back strong, because the B's are on the hook for a lot of money owed to him and they need him at 100%.
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Good points. I do like Beleskey as a third-line LW rather than playing on one of the top-two lines. He did seem to score at a decent pace the odd times he was lined up with Getzlaf and Perry in the 14/15 season, so maybe he plays better with other power forwards, like Backes? Just seemed like he was lost with Krejci and couldn't quite keep up with Spooner's speed. Could maybe try Vatrano on the off-wing with MB and DB? Not really sure if putting Hayes or Nash on the right would be a good fit. I'd imagine there will be some experimenting with line combos throughout the season, anyway.
 
LSCII said:
He's damaged goods. They'd have to add or eat salary just to move him. He's worth more to Boston than he would be to another team because of it. And I'm fine keeping him. We know what he can be here when healthy.
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It's a common surgery that rarely has any regression.
 
Salem13 said:
It's a common surgery that rarely has any regression.
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Great, but again, this is still his second surgery on his hip. Regardless of the projected positive outcome, he's had multiple issues and that could easily be a red flag to other teams given the money and term left on his deal.
 
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