Player Discussion David Backes

[Spoked-B]

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.

How many times does it need to be said that this is the second hip surgery, but the first was on this hip, before people stop trying to act like this is a chronic injury? He's also on record as saying that since the surgery on his other hip, it has never felt better.

From http://nesn.com/2016/04/david-krejci-to-have-hip-surgery-expects-to-be-back-for-camp-world-cup/:

“I’m looking at it kind of two ways,” Krejci said. “One is, yeah, it’s been a nagging injury from last year and missing that half a season. And then this year, I felt maybe the best I ever felt my first 50 games, and then I missed some games because of my shoulder injury, and after I came back, it was never the same.

“And the hip, the nagging injury kind of kept coming back, and it got to the point that we’ve been talking surgery for a while now. So it was frustrating, but at the same time, I had this surgery about six years ago on my other leg and never felt better (than I did) after it. I’m looking forward to getting it done in the next week or two and be the player that I can be.” Krejci said his last surgery carried with it a four-month recovery period. He expects to be back on the ice in time for Bruins training camp and plans to compete for his native Czech Republic in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which begins Sept. 17 in Toronto. “Yeah, if everything goes like it should, then I should be back even before camp,” Krejci said.

 

[LSCII]

How many times does it need to be said that this is the second hip surgery, but the first was on this hip, before people stop trying to act like this is a chronic injury? He's also on record as saying that since the surgery on his other hip, it has never felt better.

From http://nesn.com/2016/04/david-krejci-to-have-hip-surgery-expects-to-be-back-for-camp-world-cup/:

And that's great, but you're deluding yourself if you think that doesn't diminish his value to an extent and make teams leery. It's not that he can't be traded, but that it gives teams pause when trading for a guy who has had multiple surgeries on his hips. Why is that concept so hard for some to grasp?

 

[DKH]

And that's great, but you're deluding yourself if you think that doesn't diminish his value to an extent and make teams leery. It's not that he can't be traded, but that it gives teams pause when trading for a guy who has had multiple surgeries on his hips. Why is that concept so hard for some to grasp?

krejci is my man but his value is here

Big contract
Over 30
Injury history
NMC

Lot of obstacles to move him

He still was in the 20's in overall scoring and top 15 on Points per game

 

[LSCII]

krejci is my man but his value is here

Big contract
Over 30
Injury history
NMC

Lot of obstacles to move him

He still was in the 20's in overall scoring and top 15 on Points per game

Absolutely is still a good player. But like you said the challenges of moving him are pretty significant. Which is why I said his value to the team is higher than it is in trade.

 

[Spoked-B]

And that's great, but you're deluding yourself if you think that doesn't diminish his value to an extent and make teams leery. It's not that he can't be traded, but that it gives teams pause when trading for a guy who has had multiple surgeries on his hips. Why is that concept so hard for some to grasp?

I'm not deluding myself because I have no interest in seeing him traded. I was correcting you when you said he's having his second surgery on his hip, making it sound like it is a chronic injury with a single hip. I can't see why he won't be as effective next year (and for the duration of his contract), giving you a .8-.82 PPG center that's above average defensively. His game is not based on speed, and knowing the first surgery took the pressure off of one hip, why wouldn't the second surgery be successful and you get a guy with two good hips? It won't affect his hands, nor his mind, but it may very well make it easier for a guy who is pretty tough to begin with (*) to deal with the grind of an NHL season w/o having to also deal with gnawing pain in his hip.

(*) This is a guy who had an entire pane of glass blind-side crash land on his head & neck and didn't miss a game.

 

[LSCII]

I'm not deluding myself because I have no interest in seeing him traded. I was correcting you when you said he's having his second surgery on his hip, making it sound like it is a chronic injury with a single hip. I can't see why he won't be as effective next year (and for the duration of his contract), giving you a .8-.82 PPG center that's above average defensively. His game is not based on speed, and knowing the first surgery took the pressure off of one hip, why wouldn't the second surgery be successful and you get a guy with two good hips? It won't affect his hands, nor his mind, but it may very well make it easier for a guy who is pretty tough to begin with (*) to deal with the grind of an NHL season w/o having to also deal with gnawing pain in his hip.

(*) This is a guy who had an entire pane of glass blind-side crash land on his head & neck and didn't miss a game.

So you're correcting me over something I never said? Got it.

I said he was having his second hip surgery because he did. I never said he had a second surgery on the same thing. That's you reading something into it that wasn't there. Awfully defensive on something and ignoring the fact that I repeatedly said he was more valuable to the B's than in trade. In case you missed that point, that means I agree with you in that they shouldn't trade him.

I also think that by keeping him and adding Backes, this team is better than moving him for whatever middling d man you get and having Backes fill his role.

 

[EverettMike]

Dan and Lonnie, you guys have this 100% right on Krejci. He has more value here than as a trade asset. Another big reason I hate this Backes deal.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

krejci is my man but his value is here

Big contract
Over 30
Injury history
NMC

Lot of obstacles to move him

He still was in the 20's in overall scoring and top 15 on Points per game

Krejci's best value was after the 2013 season, IMO. The second they moved Seguin and signed Krejci long-term, his value became greater to the Bruins than anyone else.

Personally, still don't think that was the best move, and I guess we still have 6 years to fully figure out if it was out not. But all we can do is cheer them on and hope for the best.

Luckily, Sweeney has brought in a handful of players that are coming in with ELC's that may be able to do some damage with our current centers.

 

[GloveSave1]

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/boston-bruins/david-krejci/

Man, you just look at that contract and...well...you should just stop thinking about moving him. It's sobering. Let it burn into the retinas. heh

He's still fairly young, it's not like we're talking north of 35 before the contract ends. Hard to see any way the Bruins don't just hope he bounces back. Forced banking on him.

Hard to imagine a taker...at all.

Forget about even getting it done with extreme pain to make it happen.

Maybe in a few years, if things go well...but now...tough sell. Forget it.

 

[Salem13]

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/boston-bruins/david-krejci/

Man, you just look at that contract and...well...you should just stop thinking about moving him. It's sobering. Let it burn into the retinas. heh

He's still fairly young, it's not like we're talking north of 35 before the contract ends. Hard to see any way the Bruins don't just hope he bounces back. Forced banking on him.

Hard to imagine a taker...at all.

Forget about even getting it done with extreme pain to make it happen.

Maybe in a few years, if things go well...but now...tough sell. Forget it.

This place, overvalue scrubs, tweeners and straight up AHL lifers but our number one point getting center, way overpaid and tainted goods!

 

[GloveSave1]

This place, overvalue scrubs, tweeners and straight up AHL lifers but our number one point getting center, way overpaid and tainted goods!

Mmm. Some of that is right. The length of the contract and solid hit each year are worth noting. Yes, he's coming off injury, so getting the already challenging contract moved would be that much harder. Forget about the NMC and NTC.

No where in there was I bashing him, I was outlining that discussing moving him is pointless.

IMPO, although Krejci's focus can wander, he has shown to be a top playoff performer on many occations. That will always be enough for me to keep him until he goes back to Europe at the end if this contract. That, and I think he's a highly under rated defender when he wants to be...should have got some Selke consideration at some point.

 

[Gee Wally]

“You’ve got to be the first guy willing to put team success ahead of individual success,†Backes said in a conference call Friday afternoon.

“If prominent players are putting the team first, the rest of the guys have no choice [but to follow], and that’s a really great culture to cultivate winning and have that be the way that things go.

And as a group, when you win it doesn’t matter who’s got the statistics personally, everyone’s happy, everyone gets rewarded, and if you win your last game of the year you get to have a bunch of parties and parades. That’s what we’re trying to do here.â€

http://bruins.nhl.com/club/blogpost.htm?id=47079

 

[ChargersRookie]

What paper?

Journal de Montreal.

 

[ChargersRookie]

2 hip surgeries and 5 years @ 7.25 per remaining says that ain't going to happen...

Depends on the defenseman but no worries his trade clause trumps everything I think.

 

[Gee Wally]

Folks before this goes any further off track please move the Krejci discussion to the Krejci thread.
Thanks.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2062445&page=7

 

[GloveSave1]

“You’ve got to be the first guy willing to put team success ahead of individual success,” Backes said in a conference call Friday afternoon.

“If prominent players are putting the team first, the rest of the guys have no choice [but to follow], and that’s a really great culture to cultivate winning and have that be the way that things go.

And as a group, when you win it doesn’t matter who’s got the statistics personally, everyone’s happy, everyone gets rewarded, and if you win your last game of the year you get to have a bunch of parties and parades. That’s what we’re trying to do here.”

http://bruins.nhl.com/club/blogpost.htm?id=47079

Good. Important stuff. I like the idea of "RW for the most part, and sometimes C" much better than the opposite.

Like a lot of people, I did get the feeling through his initial interviews that the Bruins said there was a center slot for him, and got the feeling that was his primary plan...but it's good to hear that won't be an issue. We need him at RW.

...for now.

 

[DKH]

Absolutely is still a good player. But like you said the challenges of moving him are pretty significant. Which is why I said his value to the team is higher than it is in trade.

Even if healthy he's got a big contact and this little thing called a nmc

He's also 30

The idea is to use Backes Bergeron and Krejci and 'share the heavy city driving' between 3 instead of 2 and get healthier more productive players and in 2-5 years you are getting JFK and others ready to be top 3 centers

Krejci Max value is here - Backes was brought in to sustain the Bergeron-Krejci duo not supplant Krejci

Backes is a great decision to me if so but if not I would not approve

It's a gamble but worthwhile and makes a lot of sense and fits what I see them doing

 

[LSCII]

Even if healthy he's got a big contact and this little thing called a nmc

He's also 30

The idea is to use Backes Bergeron and Krejci and 'share the heavy city driving' between 3 instead of 2 and get healthier more productive players and in 2-5 years you are getting JFK and others ready to be top 3 centers

Krejci Max value is here - Backes was brought in to sustain the Bergeron-Krejci duo not supplant Krejci

Backes is a great decision to me if so but if not I would not approve

It's a gamble but worthwhile and makes a lot of sense and fits what I see them doing

So you're in the Backes at center camp as well then. Me too. Wing on the PP but C for es is my preference.

 

[bp13]

Dan and Lonnie, you guys have this 100% right on Krejci. He has more value here than as a trade asset. Another big reason I hate this Backes deal.

I'm talking myself off the ledge on this Backss deal based on the assumption he rides RW with Krejci. This team has always enjoyed the most success with rugged RWs for Krejci, and Neely himself made it a point of emphasis at his postseason pressed. I have to think they'll use him at center, but he may end up at RW more.

Vesey/Vatrano-Krejci-Backes
Marchand-Bergeron-Vatrano
Beleskey-Spooner-Pasta
4th line

That's a pretty solid top 9. Especially if Vesey comes here and he doesn't suck.

Obviously if you slide Backes down to 3C you're better at a key spot, but then your wingers are pretty weak.

We are all likely to hate years 4 and 5, but hopefully he can be a solid 3rd line center at that point. Won't be worth $6M obviously, but the milk has been spilled.

 

[Bmessy]

Big contract
Over 30
Injury history
NMC

Lot of obstacles to move him

This can describe our 3 highest paid players forwards. This could get bad in a few years. I still get worried about Bergy, it's been awhile since he's gotten pumped but with his history things could get complicated quickly.

Well it seems Backes hasn't missed much time due to injury. But I swear a few years ago he got absolutely destroyed and was knocked out cold and got concussed. Every forward has probably had atleast a couple concussions though so whatever..

 

[JoeIsAStud]

I hadn't noticed Backes' contract until it was mentioned on the 3 AMigos podcast the other day. He is getting 8 million the first 2 years of the deal, and only 4 million the last 2 years of the deal

 

[Sturm]

Still not sure why the Bruins wouldn't have just kept the younger Ericksson who is a better offensive player. Nothing against Backes.

 

[LSCII]

Still not sure why the Bruins wouldn't have just kept the younger Ericksson who is a better offensive player. Nothing against Backes.

From all accounts, it sounds like they tried but couldn't come to a mutual agreement on length and term. Since that's the case, I'm fine with them taking the money they would have used to retain Loui and giving it to a guy like Backes.

 

[BNHL]

Still not sure why the Bruins wouldn't have just kept the younger Ericksson who is a better offensive player. Nothing against Backes.

They saved 6 million,but I agree,if I was going to pay 6 million per for 5 years of 32 year old Backes,I would have first paid 6 mil per for 6 years of 31 year old Eriksson. BTW,I wouldn't have done either.

 

[don]

I see Backes playing C to start the season until we're satisfied Krejci is OK. After that, I think he'll move to RW on Bergeron's line.