Player Discussion David Backes

[Oates2Neely]

Tanev got hit by Backes so much today he's going to be asked why he got a 42 tattoo

I noticed that. Also noticed Pasta turn Tanev inside out on the GWG. Do Canucks fans overrate that guy or is was this a rare awful game from him?

 

[DKH]

I noticed that. Also noticed Pasta turn Tanev inside out on the GWG. Do Canucks fans overrate that guy or is was this a rare awful game from him?

I was watching Tanev closely but all I remember was Backes hitting him over and over especially in the second period

Eriksson got nothing I noticed - it's like he was Marcus Granlund

 

[Oates2Neely]

I was watching Tanev closely but all I remember was Backes hitting him over and over especially in the second period

Eriksson got nothing I noticed - it's like he was Marcus Granlund

Backes with back to back solid games. He can be a force when motivated.

All due respect to Loui and his 30 goals last season, but he was invisible today

 

[ashnathan]

Backes with back to back solid games. He can be a force when motivated.

All due respect to Loui and his 30 goals last season, but he was invisible today

He is having a poor season.

 

[rocketdan9]

Needs to be demoted down to the third line

Maybe bring up Heinen again and see if he can gel with the 1st line

 

[Oates2Neely]

Needs to be demoted down to the third line

Maybe bring up Heinen again and see if he can gel with the 1st line

I wasn't impressed with Heinen during his first stint. Is he really the next guy up from Providence? I think Czarnik has been a better fit so far. Is Heinen dominating in Providence? I need to get to the Dunk for a game soon

 

[BruinDust]

I wasn't impressed with Heinen during his first stint. Is he really the next guy up from Providence? I think Czarnik has been a better fit so far. Is Heinen dominating in Providence? I need to get to the Dunk for a game soon

Recently had a stretch of 2 goals in 28 AHL games.

So no, he isn't dominating.

And suggestion to call him up, and place him on the 1st line, are ludicrous.

Leave him in the AHL for now.

 

[LouJersey]

Not sure if anyone else caught that comment by the PBP guy last night saying Backes said "It's just such a different feeling now". "Even when we give up a goal it's just such a different feeling"

Seems Backes wasn't a Claude guy.

 

[Ten Thousand Hours]

Not sure if anyone else caught that comment by the PBP guy last night saying Backes said "It's just such a different feeling now". "Even when we give up a goal it's just such a different feeling"

Seems Backes wasn't a Claude guy.

He did publicly say that he hadn't grasped the system well enough yet. I've brought this up, but if a 10 year veteran can't grasp the system and the system isn't producing results, it's not a good system. No surprise that Backes is one of the several players happy Claude is gone.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

He lacks the skill a $6 million dollar player should have. I'd rather have Looch back.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

I thought Backes kinda sucked last night

 

[Dr Hook]

He did publicly say that he hadn't grasped the system well enough yet. I've brought this up, but if a 10 year veteran can't grasp the system and the system isn't producing results, it's not a good system. No surprise that Backes is one of the several players happy Claude is gone.

To be fair here, Backes was talking specifically about the center's role in Claude's system and he didn't say he didn't grasp it, but that he didn't have a comfort level with it yet. Maybe it's one and the same thing, but I would think it's more about Backes' style of game fitting with the offensive design of working the puck down low rather than along the boards and setting up shots from the point.

 

[BNHL]

He lacks the skill a $6 million dollar player should have. I'd rather have Looch back.

Looch ain't lighting the house on fire either.

 

[LouJersey]

I thought Backes kinda sucked last night

Saw the first and third and ot and he was not that good. Was surprising. It's disappointing because he was one of those guys that loved watching when he was a Blue.

 

[BNHL]

He's a noisy player with limited production,Brickley said that his "leadership" was the Bruins number 1 reason for signing him. That's pathetic on a team with Chara-Bergeron-Krejci for starters.

 

[BruinDust]

He lacks the skill a $6 million dollar player should have. I'd rather have Looch back.

As a full-time play-making Power Winger with an average shot, he's not worth 6 million for his level of production.

As a shut-down playmaking center who isn't out of place on a scoring line, can play both special teams, put up 20g and 40-50 pts a season, he is worth 6 million.

I was completely in favor of Backes being a free agency target as part of a two-way 3-headed monster up the middle with Bergeron and Krejci. Take some defensive responsibility away from them, especially Krejci, and get more out of everyone. Then he can still be used as a part-time Power Winger as in-game situations dictate.

If I had know he was to be used as essentially a full-time winger I wouldn't of supporter the move.

Claude Julien using a former Selke-nominated center as a full-time winger will go down as one of his more surprising moves, considering what Claude values up the middle and the sheer volume of lesser players he has used their over the years (Yelle, Talbot, Campbell, Kemppainen, Nash) essentially because of their defensive ability.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

He's a noisy player with limited production,Brickley said that his "leadership" was the Bruins number 1 reason for signing him. That's pathetic on a team with Chara-Bergeron-Krejci for starters.

I mean 6 million for leadership is just too much to pay. Shawn Thornton was a sub million dollar guy while he was here. If you want a vocal lockerroom guy, find a bottom 6 player, pay him 2-3 million and save the rest for production.

granted it was just one game and he has looked good at other times, but man he just looked slow and not dangerous at all last night.

 

[rocketdan9]

Switch backes spot with spooners

So the third line will be

Vatrano backes hayes

Marchand bergeron spooner could be amazing

 

[rocketdan9]

From what I have seen...Backes has peformed best playing Centre

 

[World of Wardlow]

From what I have seen...Backes has peformed best playing Centre

Wasn't it said that he was uncomfortable playing centre this year?

 

[Hali33]

Hope he's one of the guys who look a lot better in a new system.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Switch backes spot with spooners

So the third line will be

Vatrano backes hayes

Marchand bergeron spooner could be amazing

I wouldn't touch Spooner right now he has been playing great with Vatrano and Hayes,not totally keen n Hayes yet but wouldn't break up Spooner and Vatrano.

 

[VanIsle]

I wouldn't touch Spooner right now he has been playing great with Vatrano and Hayes,not totally keen n Hayes yet but wouldn't break up Spooner and Vatrano.

Agreed, depth has always done the Bruins well.

Don't break up the lines, and if the Bruins have 3 strong lines that helps out everyone.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

He lacks the skill a $6 million dollar player should have. I'd rather have Looch back.

How 'bout that $6 million superstar in Vancouver, though?

The nature of unrestricted free agency seems to be buyer's regret 75-80% of the time. You're competing with every other team interested for the player, so the contract is inevitably going to get inflated. Is David Backes worth $6 million? No, I don't think so. Not when you compare him across an equivalent scale to all active players and their salaries. But such is the nature of established players who are exposed as UFA's in their late 20's/early 30's.

David Backes filled a hole and fit the classic "Bruins identity". As it stands, it's not a very good contract and he's not any sort of superstar, but I understand the reality of needing to fill the spot with an established NHL player. They went with what they thought was their best option in Backes. Can't be too upset about it.

Now...if anyone remembers, I was one of the biggest critics of not trading Loui at the deadline. I don't care that he apparently couldn't get us a 1st round pick. I wanted him gone for the best offer available. We weren't going anywhere last year. And while it upsets me we wasted the opportunity to collect assets for a player that wasn't going to get resigned anyways, I am perfectly happy with the trade off. Loui Eriksson did not fit any identity or style the Bruins were aiming for going forward, no matter his goal total in his final year. As effective as he was statistically last season, he got a contract this year and has basically been a noncontributor for Vancouver. While I wish Backes would contribute more on the scoresheet, I trust that he's doing a lot more than Loui ever would do as far as team morale and leading by example (with physicality and work ethic) on the ice. Neither player is lighting the world on fire, but I'll honestly take Backes' contract (for this team) over Loui's all day, every day.

 

[rocketdan9]

Agreed, depth has always done the Bruins well.

Don't break up the lines, and if the Bruins have 3 strong lines that helps out everyone.

But they have only 2 decent lines

4th line has been playing decent

1st line has taken a nosedive ever since switching Pasta with Backes