Player Discussion David Backes

[CDJ]

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. ;-)

Bang on


It's preposterous really

 

[BNHL]

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.

So the fact that Backes isn't exactly connecting with Krejci either means nothing because he's physical and vocal,okay,maybe he's not learning the system so well or maybe it's Krejci's health . To say that Loui brings nothing but goals is flat out lying,since he had more assists nearly every year in the league and was the first non center on the ice for PK situations. Also,I haven't seen any negativity in the Van thread about what you report for 2 weeks and since Eriksson scored 6 goals in 11 games. Let's be honest,you like Backes' style better,that's it,whether it contributes to more wins for this team is a complete unknown.

 

[DKH]

So the fact that Backes isn't exactly connecting with Krejci either means nothing because he's physical and vocal,okay,maybe he's not learning the system so well or maybe it's Krejci's health . To say that Loui brings nothing but goals is flat out lying,since he had more assists nearly every year in the league and was the first non center on the ice for PK situations. Also,I haven't seen any negativity in the Van thread about what you report for 2 weeks and since Eriksson scored 6 goals in 11 games. Let's be honest,you like Backes' style better,that's it,whether it contributes to more wins for this team is a complete unknown.

Backes years 4 & 5 will be making $4 M and could be moved

That said I really can't figure out how anyone who has watched him hasn't seen what Bill Ladd posted without being agenda driven

 

[Gee Wally]

Subject is Backes- not each other- multiple deletions.

 

[BNHL]

Backes years 4 & 5 will be making $4 M and could be moved

That said I really can't figure out how anyone who has watched him hasn't seen what Bill Ladd posted without being agenda driven

I like Backes,I just thought his predecessor brought more hockey talent and was capable of more production. I think a second year with Krejci would be another 30 goal season for Eriksson. I truly have no idea how many points his leadership and physicality bring versus Eriksson's style.Bill spoke about creating net front havoc for goals but Eriksson was constantly in front of that net also,more than any teammate. I thought the term sucked though you are right when he is 35 and 36 he'll be making 4,slightly more palatable. He's not a #1 center right now or a top wing,he may be a #3 center at best on this team,how about in 3 years? In my opinion,they should have opted out of Eriksson and Backes and sought a potential younger front line wing to replace the one they lost. I'm not anti Backes,I loved the guy,but I am negative on this decision at that time.

 

[Brewins]

I like Backes,I just thought his predecessor brought more hockey talent and was capable of more production. I think a second year with Krejci would be another 30 goal season for Eriksson. I truly have no idea how many points his leadership and physicality bring versus Eriksson's style.Bill spoke about creating net front havoc for goals but Eriksson was constantly in front of that net also,more than any teammate. I thought the term sucked though you are right when he is 35 and 36 he'll be making 4,slightly more palatable. He's not a #1 center right now or a top wing,he may be a #3 center at best on this team,how about in 3 years? In my opinion,they should have opted out of Eriksson and Backes and sought a potential younger front line wing to replace the one they lost. I'm not anti Backes,I loved the guy,but I am negative on this decision at that time.

I am not convinced he is a solution on DK's wing, at least not without a true sniper like horton,iggy, kessel. Backes brings that netfront jam like lucic. But there isn't a guy right now on the line to rip shots on goal. Vatrano may be after his rehab stint in prov.

If he slots as 3c That'd be some great center depth maybe schaller-Backes-Czar with Krejci getting Vatrano+ spooner/heinen or whoever we trade spooner for. Leaving a fourth line of Nash-Moore-Accari/Blihd

 

[BNHL]

I am not convinced he is a solution on DK's wing, at least not without a true sniper like horton,iggy, kessel. Backes brings that netfront jam like lucic. But there isn't a guy right now on the line to rip shots on goal. Vatrano may be after his rehab stint in prov.

If he slots as 3c That'd be some great center depth maybe schaller-Backes-Czar with Krejci getting Vatrano+ spooner/heinen or whoever we trade spooner for. Leaving a fourth line of Nash-Moore-Accari/Blihd

That's a lot of money for a 3C. I could be wrong but i would have shopped for a potential front line wing and kept Spooner at 3C. Right now we have a negative net of 12 points from Backes as Eriksson had 23 points at this juncture and Spooner had 12 points versus Nash's 4.

 

[Brewins]

That's a lot of money for a 3C. I could be wrong but i would have shopped for a potential front line wing and kept Spooner at 3C. Right now we have a negative net of 12 points from Backes as Eriksson had 23 points at this juncture and Spooner had 12 points versus Nash's 4.

Is it better if he is a winger on the second? Yea it's alot of money but we are paying it anyways. Kessel is a third liner on pitt and he's making similar money. With him on the third we have cheap players on the higher wings ie pasta/spooner/czarnik

 

[BNHL]

Is it better if he is a winger on the second? Yea it's alot of money but we are paying it anyways. Kessel is a third liner on pitt and he's making similar money. With him on the third we have cheap players on the higher wings ie pasta/spooner/czarnik

Kessel's playing with Malkin and Kunitz mostly.

 

[Brewins]

Kessel's playing with Malkin and Kunitz mostly.

based on their gdt he is playing 3rd line with malkin today but has been on the 3rd with hagelin and bonino at least for the past 3-4 games.

Regardless they have success rolling three potent lines and we may be able to replicate that with backes at 3c with some other young talent with him.

 

[BNHL]

based on their gdt he is playing 3rd line with malkin today but has been on the 3rd with hagelin and bonino at least for the past 3-4 games.

Regardless they have success rolling three potent lines and we may be able to replicate that with backes at 3c with some other young talent with him.

Bruins will be short a proven front line winger or 2 in that scenario

 

[neelynugs]

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. ;-)

he's also a notorious slow-starter and just uprooted his entire life to move to a new city after an entire career elsewhere. i think he's gonna get better.

 

[Brewins]

Bruins will be short a proven front line winger or 2 in that scenario

True it hinges on vatrano's return and whether czarnik/Heinen/debrusk can adapt to nhl and perform/beat expectations.

 

[BNHL]

True it hinges on vatrano's return and whether czarnik/Heinen/debrusk can adapt to nhl and perform/beat expectations.

Vatrano hasn't proven anything yet either,he's got 39 NHL games and 8 goals. Some people see lots of promise but he is not a surefire top wing.

 

[Brewins]

Vatrano hasn't proven anything yet either,he's got 39 NHL games and 8 goals. Some people see lots of promise but he is not a surefire top wing.

Also true, but he has shown he belongs in the nhl in some capacity and shown a top-9 skillset with his skating, shot and hitting. Better suited for DK's wing than schaller and shown to be a better winger than Spooner. He allows a certain amount of the lineup to slot down to better suited positions. Im not sure on his impact this year with return from injury and months of not skating/shooting.

 

[BNHL]

Also true, but he has shown he belongs in the nhl in some capacity and shown a top-9 skillset with his skating, shot and hitting. Better suited for DK's wing than schaller and shown to be a better winger than Spooner. He allows a certain amount of the lineup to slot down to better suited positions. Im not sure on his impact this year with return from injury and months of not skating/shooting.

Poor Krejci,a "rookie" and a converted center on the wings. Hope Vatrano does what some people around here believe.

 

[Brewins]

Poor Krejci,a "rookie" and a converted center on the wings. Hope Vatrano does what some people around here believe.

He really has gotten the short stick as far as talent has gone recently, iggy,loui, lucic out Fraser, schaller, spooner etc on his wings. And he's been asked to produce at the same level.

 

[Dr Hook]

He really has gotten the short stick as far as talent has gone recently, iggy,loui, lucic out Fraser, schaller, spooner etc on his wings. And he's been asked to produce at the same level.

I'd say he's not done too badly this year under those circumstances, even if it has taken him some time to get his legs back

 

[Brewins]

I'd say he's not done too badly this year under those circumstances, even if it has taken him some time to get his legs back

Yea he's been looking better and better. There is some chemistry with him and backes but his formula is tried and proven. Shooter-Playmaker(DK)-Grinder. Unless marchy or pasta is moved to his line he is missing that shooter.

 

[Dr Hook]

Yea he's been looking better and better. There is some chemistry with him and backes but his formula is tried and proven. Shooter-Playmaker(DK)-Grinder. Unless marchy or pasta is moved to his line he is missing that shooter.

Backes and Krejci look good together to me and they're getting better (it is the Backes thread, so want to keep it to point)- let's hope Vatrano is what so many of us hope he is when he comes back. Krejci will get him the puck in good positions- Backes can clean up the trash. I honestly feel that Backes' production will increase too with a good shooter given how/where he plays the game.

 

[BNHL]

He really has gotten the short stick as far as talent has gone recently, iggy,loui, lucic out Fraser, schaller, spooner etc on his wings. And he's been asked to produce at the same level.

Um,I think Iggy and Loui each scored 30 in their lone years with Krejci.

 

[Brewins]

Um,I think Iggy and Loui each scored 30 in their lone years with Krejci.

Yea, i was saying they are good wingers...

 

[the overrated]

I'm not sure if we'll be able to fully grade the signing until the season's over. Much of the reason that he was brought in was for the leadership & intangibles that he was going to bring. If this team fades in the latter half of the season and DNQ's, the grade of his signing will be impacted negatively. If the team gets over the hump and makes the playoffs, his grade will be impacted positively.

I fully recognize that he alone won't be the difference between making it or not, but with how much emphasis was placed on the lack of leadership last year, and that being referenced as a big reason why Boston sought to bring him in, if the team is golfing in early April again, he will have to be viewed as 'failing' in this first season - his acquisition won't have been the positive one that the B's were looking for.

 

[TMac21]

Beast last night.

 

[bob27]

Tied for 2nd in goals with Marchand. I don't think that you can ask much more from him. Certainly doing better than Loui was in his first season.