What sucks is that they gave up Loui over a 6 year term at 31 only to give 32 year old Backes a 5 year term at 32. They lost a guy who had reclaimed the 30 goal mark for a guy who was hopefully gonna be good for 25. The guy was a natural center who had some success at wing but he brought 2 characteristics they desired or lacked,in leadership and physicality. What they needed was a natural goal scoring wing,whether he was physical and vocal shouldn't have mattered much. Now the addition is struggling in the role where the departed had success. I heard so often that Backes was a "better fit" but right now he has been a poor fit in the hole he was supposed to fill. Hopefully he gets back on track with Krejci and helps the team where it needs it most,scoring.
Player Discussion David Backes
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What sucks is that they gave up Loui over a 6 year term at 31 only to give 32 year old Backes a 5 year term at 32. They lost a guy who had reclaimed the 30 goal mark for a guy who was hopefully gonna be good for 25. The guy was a natural center who had some success at wing but he brought 2 characteristics they desired or lacked,in leadership and physicality. What they needed was a natural goal scoring wing,whether he was physical and vocal shouldn't have mattered much. Now the addition is struggling in the role where the departed had success. I heard so often that Backes was a "better fit" but right now he has been a poor fit in the hole he was supposed to fill. Hopefully he gets back on track with Krejci and helps the team where it needs it most,scoring.
Well, if I remember correctly, Loui (before the concussions) wasn't exactly lighting it up when he first got here either. (Many said he was learning the system).
Then after the he returned to his more normal self (mostly I'm talking last year) it still took a while for him and DK to get in sync and that was even with DK burning the place up early on before he got hurt. I can't remember exactly at what point Loui became a fixture on Krejci ' s wing. But also Loui had been in the system for a while at that point so he was familiar with it.
I believe Backes will be fine once he gets acclimated.
The pre-season is a job interview for young players. Their performance could land them a job. That could mean something, but they have to prove it when the real game starts.
For players who already have a job, they are just trying not to get hurt and build chemistry with their potential line-mates. Sometimes they have luck and score a bunch of points, but it isn't their main focus. I am not sure how anyone can put any stock into points scored in the pre-season. Phil Varone had 6 points in the pre-season.
I don't think the pre-season is worth less than nothing, but it isn't a predictor of any meaningful results for most players or teams during the regular season.
DKH
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All sports are so hard to gauge preseason statistical performances. Look at even seasoned veterans like Mike Napoli for the Red Sox a few years back after we heard he got the surgery for his jaw that would correct his sleep issues. Napoli had a proven record and was a valuable member of the Red Sox and had a monstah Spring Training and then just fell off the cliff once the regular season started.
Who are QB's playing against or batters facing and what are they working on or hockey players shooting against in net? A guy like Heinen has a very good camp but was he playing against focused vets or teams loaded with other teams Heinen's.
I think its more of an eye ball test for someone like Claude and his staff and upper management. Does the player compete- how is he away from puck.
I think you nailed it well here- its got value but it doesn't exactly translate from one season to the other but you do get information
whatsbruin
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RedeyeRocketeer
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In 2018 we are going to be absolutely agonizing over this one. It's bad now, but I think 2018 it's going to be Gomez-like.
The past mean nothing, the present and next years at 6 m will be a real problem.
Yes he is a 3rd liner and can do all a good 3rd liner can do. I have nothing against him, good leader, the problem is not we signed him, it is the money and time we gave him. At 4 m , 3 years it is a nice move
40-50 pts for 6 m is much much too much.
I would sign back Lucic !!!!
DKH
Worst Poster/Awful Takes
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i can see him being decenct even in 3 and 4.
He can play both wing and center and maybe being like Carpenter was at end
Bobby and even Barry Pederson, Oates others ended up good bottom 6
Also he does have intangible and a specific type of heavy game
He could also be like Joel Otto was with Calgary and when finished up with Flyers
And I think ? His contract goes
8
8
6
4
4
And they can deal him last two years
Hopefully he does well - a hockey/dog guy
I don't think anyone is arguing that we didn't overpay a bit- it was pointed out earlier that if you go shopping in July 1, you probably will overpay. Time will tell if it was a good investment, and I would by lying if I wasn't concerned that he will go downhill fast in 2- years and we'll still have that contract. On the other hand, he is a proven player with the right kind of skill set for the team. I'd rather overpay Backes and get what we believed we were getting, than overpay a Hayes or Beleskey by the same amount and not, if you get my meaning.
Dennis Bonvie
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As a Habs fan, I can only wish we signed Backes this offseason. He's MUCH better than Plekanec, Desharnais, and Eller. It's hard to find quality scoring at the second line center position. We have NONE right now.
KrejciMVP
Registered User
Been watching Backes on Krejcis wing, he's obviously a good player but IMO he needs to be a center with two speedy wingers around him. Silver lining, we have tremendous depth at C. Perhaps trading Chara could get us a solid winger?
neelynugs
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the right move for both the bruins and blues would've been a swap that had eriksson and shattenkirk switching places, with other players/picks involved in a bigger deal. heard from a few folks that this was a serious discussion but it was armstrong who blew it up (and you may have already know this).
RedeyeRocketeer
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Over the volcano
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Love Backes on this team. So much of what they needed and what has been missing the last few years.
Alberta_OReilly_Fan
Bruin fan since 1975
CharasLazyWrister
Registered User
Both the Backes and Eriksson contracts are probably going to be pretty bad in three years. But mark my words: Loui's will be worse. Backes is a vocal leader and brings it physically. Will he struggle to be a top 6 player as he ages? Maybe. But, what exactly are we seeing with Loui in Vancouver? That he's fairly useless without talent and does not bring much of anything outside of goals, and he's not doing much of that this year. When that's not happening, he's an incredibly frustrating player. I'm also wondering why Loui gets the perpetual "he's learning da system" excuse while you've never heard such a thing for Backes.
If Backes isn't scoring, I can at least have hope he's going to contribute in other ways. Loui, not so much. And neither one is exactly lighting it up this year. Calling that "trade-off" something that "sucks" doesn't seem to prove true at all. Good for Loui for scoring 30 last year, but I'm not feeling too bad about it when you've got Vancouver fans asking "so how the **** did this guy score 30 goals?" game after game. And also, I'm not going to fret about a year difference in age. They're both past or at the very end of their prime production as professional players.
PlayMakers
Registered User
I don't agree (or even understand) with the notion that he's not playing well...
They don't beat Buffalo without Backes who helped set up the Krejci goal.
They don't beat Carolina without Backes wreaking havoc in front of a seemingly unbeatable Cam Ward.
They probably don't beat Columbus or Winnipeg without him stepping into the #1C role in Bergeron's absence.
He's on pace for 23 goals, +26 and nearly 200 shots on goal in 77 games. He leads the team in hits per game. He's one of the team's most important players, 3rd in ES TOI, kills penalties, plays the PP and his ability to set screens and wreak havoc in front is Holmstrom-like. To say nothing of the intangibles that don't matter. ;-)
They don't beat Buffalo without Backes who helped set up the Krejci goal.
They don't beat Carolina without Backes wreaking havoc in front of a seemingly unbeatable Cam Ward.
They probably don't beat Columbus or Winnipeg without him stepping into the #1C role in Bergeron's absence.
He's on pace for 23 goals, +26 and nearly 200 shots on goal in 77 games. He leads the team in hits per game. He's one of the team's most important players, 3rd in ES TOI, kills penalties, plays the PP and his ability to set screens and wreak havoc in front is Holmstrom-like. To say nothing of the intangibles that don't matter. ;-)
Completely agree. Backes has been an important player for us so far this year.
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