Player Discussion David Backes

[Bruinfanatic]

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

Hasn't been great but ,wouldn't break them up,sure Bruins hoping Backes will be kind of like Recchi,when he was on that line.

 

[bp13]

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.

Strongly disagree with this.

The Bruins stated they wanted to become a faster, more skilled team to move ahead with the rest of the league. Backes doesn't fit that mold, and your biggest free agent acquisition probably ought to fit with your main goal for your roster.

And MORE importantly, the franchise looks to be in great shape with prospects probably due to contribute in the next 2-3 years. That contract could very easily deal a stunning blow to a team during that window. It was a bad contract from the get-go and was supposed to pay dividends early. So far it hasn't, and it has the real possibility to be an albatross in a few seasons when this team might actually be good.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Strongly disagree with this.

The Bruins stated they wanted to become a faster, more skilled team to move ahead with the rest of the league. Backes doesn't fit that mold, and your biggest free agent acquisition probably ought to fit with your main goal for your roster.

And MORE importantly, the franchise looks to be in great shape with prospects probably due to contribute in the next 2-3 years. That contract could very easily deal a stunning blow to a team during that window. It was a bad contract from the get-go and was supposed to pay dividends early. So far it hasn't, and it has the real possibility to be an albatross in a few seasons when this team might actually be good.

I understand what you're saying about the speed. I made the same argument for why they shouldn't re-sign Loui. I'm willing to give that contract a couple of playoff rounds before I write it off as downright horrible. As I've said, I trust that David Backes is a leader and that does count for...something. He also plays the game hard (I am concerned about his body totally breaking down over the next few years), something that Loui didn't do.

Maybe, I am pushing it when I call him the "best option" for the Bruins on the free agent market, but they needed to fill the spot and they decided to do it with someone who fit the classic Bruin player. Not speedy, not overly skilled...but a hard worker who is physical. And, a good leader.

The point I want to make though is...when it comes down to Loui v. Backes, I want Backes. Even when Eriksson was hammering in some goals on top of the crease...I never thought he brought energy or picked up his teammates. He wasn't a player I wanted to latch onto long term. Not a very safe bet with Backes either...but, I'd rather him than Loui.

Won't be a popular opinion around these parts, but that's how I've felt since day 1 and I doubt it will change anytime soon.

 

[bp13]

I understand what you're saying about the speed. I made the same argument for why they shouldn't re-sign Loui. I'm willing to give that contract a couple of playoff rounds before I write it off as downright horrible. As I've said, I trust that David Backes is a leader and that does count for...something. He also plays the game hard (I am concerned about his body totally breaking down over the next few years), something that Loui didn't do.

Maybe, I am pushing it when I call him the "best option" for the Bruins on the free agent market, but they needed to fill the spot and they decided to do it with someone who fit the classic Bruin player. Not speedy, not overly skilled...but a hard worker who is physical. And, a good leader.

The point I want to make though is...when it comes down to Loui v. Backes, I want Backes. Even when Eriksson was hammering in some goals on top of the crease...I never thought he brought energy or picked up his teammates. He wasn't a player I wanted to latch onto long term. Not a very safe bet with Backes either...but, I'd rather him than Loui.

Won't be a popular opinion around these parts, but that's how I've felt since day 1 and I doubt it will change anytime soon.

Well I would argue Loui vs. Backes is a strawman argument as that wasn't the choice. The choice was what to do in free agency with money to spend and holes on the roster. At that moment in time I'd wager about 99% of Bruins fans felt the key hole to fill was a top 4 d-man. We knew such a player would be expensive in either assets or dollars or both, but that was the big hole to fill.

Instead they overpaid and overextended for David Backes and sold us on the idea of "team defense", "leadership", "size on the wing" and "depth up the middle". It's excuses for failing to fill the real hole. And that hole remains. I contended then and I contend now that Backes was as much a PR signing to grab a big name when the right option couldn't be had as he was any of those sales pitches. And that contract is highly likely to hurt us, a lot, in a few years. Hell he's been overpaid THIS year already.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Well I would argue Loui vs. Backes is a strawman argument as that wasn't the choice. The choice was what to do in free agency with money to spend and holes on the roster. At that moment in time I'd wager about 99% of Bruins fans felt the key hole to fill was a top 4 d-man. We knew such a player would be expensive in either assets or dollars or both, but that was the big hole to fill.

Instead they overpaid and overextended for David Backes and sold us on the idea of "team defense", "leadership", "size on the wing" and "depth up the middle". It's excuses for failing to fill the real hole. And that hole remains. I contended then and I contend now that Backes was as much a PR signing to grab a big name when the right option couldn't be had as he was any of those sales pitches. And that contract is highly likely to hurt us, a lot, in a few years. Hell he's been overpaid THIS year already.

Genuinely do not remember (and too lazy to look up)...who was the top 4 D-man to target in UFA?

The contract may hurt us, but it truly doesn't bother me at the moment. Just my opinion.

I also really don't believe the "big name" theory. That has never, ever, ever been the Bruins style and I really don't believe it is now.

 

[LouJersey]

Genuinely do not remember (and too lazy to look up)...who was the top 4 D-man to target in UFA?

The contract may hurt us, but it truly doesn't bother me at the moment. Just my opinion.

I also really don't believe the "big name" theory. That has never, ever, ever been the Bruins style and I really don't believe it is now.

Demers.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Demers.

Ah, alright.

Good Lord, thank God for Carlo and a slight "re-emergence" of Chara. I don't know if I could take a repeat of last year's defense.

 

[BNHL]

I understand what you're saying about the speed. I made the same argument for why they shouldn't re-sign Loui. I'm willing to give that contract a couple of playoff rounds before I write it off as downright horrible. As I've said, I trust that David Backes is a leader and that does count for...something. He also plays the game hard (I am concerned about his body totally breaking down over the next few years), something that Loui didn't do.

Maybe, I am pushing it when I call him the "best option" for the Bruins on the free agent market, but they needed to fill the spot and they decided to do it with someone who fit the classic Bruin player. Not speedy, not overly skilled...but a hard worker who is physical. And, a good leader.

The point I want to make though is...when it comes down to Loui v. Backes, I want Backes. Even when Eriksson was hammering in some goals on top of the crease...I never thought he brought energy or picked up his teammates. He wasn't a player I wanted to latch onto long term. Not a very safe bet with Backes either...but, I'd rather him than Loui.

Won't be a popular opinion around these parts, but that's how I've felt since day 1 and I doubt it will change anytime soon.

At this rate he'll have a little more than half the goals Loui had,and I'd rather have the goals than all the noise Backes makes or his 10 pounds of leadership that amounted to zero in the win column.

 

[PB37]

At this rate he'll have a little more than half the goals Loui had,and I'd rather have the goals than all the noise Backes makes or his 10 pounds of leadership that amounted to zero in the win column.

At this rate Loui will have half the goals Loui had. He's having a worse season.

 

[KnightofBoston]

Rather have backes

He looks out of place on that line though, I'd do vatrano with Bergeron and Marchand move backes to center on the third with spooner and czarnik when he's back

 

[Ten Thousand Hours]

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.

Yes, I understand that, but it's still an indictment of the system. Backes was willing to say it, but it would have been a better example had Spooner said it and then played like he has at center the last 4 games. But Spooner wouldn't say that.

 

[BruinDust]

Rather have backes

He looks out of place on that line though, I'd do vatrano with Bergeron and Marchand move backes to center on the third with spooner and czarnik when he's back

Backes centering Spooner and Czarnik was an absolute trainwreck defensively when it was done in Detroit. I think they were on for at least 3 goals against, blown coverage all over the place. That was the game where afterwards Backes said he wasn't familiar enough with the system at center. And Cassidy hasn't changed much about Boston's defensive structure.

So much so that Julien immediately changed it the next game.

 

[HumBucker]

Yeah, I have to wonder if Cassady will try Backes at centre at some point. Maybe he's just more effective there, or maybe he'll take time to adjust to being a winger?

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

At this rate he'll have a little more than half the goals Loui had,and I'd rather have the goals than all the noise Backes makes or his 10 pounds of leadership that amounted to zero in the win column.

See post #859.

If Backes and Eriksson finish with around the same point totals, the better option is easily Backes.

Neither one is ideal, and it's unfortunate this debate is even possible, but that's how I feel when it comes down to one against the other.

 

[ON3M4N]

Why are we trying to move Backes off the 1st line? He has 1G/3A in his last 4 games since playing w/ Bergy & Marchy. Leave him there, he's looked good on that line.

 

[DKH]

I just watched second and third and OT having fallen asleep and I thought Backes was very good

But maybe like cheesecake, David Backes video is better the next day

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Why are we trying to move Backes off the 1st line? He has 1G/3A in his last 4 games since playing w/ Bergy & Marchy. Leave him there, he's looked good on that line.

I like him there too.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

I like him there too.

Im shocked how bad he is in his own end. Constantly losing battles on the boards and lazy turnovers in the Dzone.

I will wait until we see him in the playoffs but so far Im not crazy about what Im seeing for that money and term at his age.

 

[missingchicklet]

It's not easy to step into playing for a new team with a new system. Makes it even tougher when you are playing on several different lines at a new position. I am not a fan of the Backes signing, but I think he will be better than what we have seen. We saw what Loui could do once he was healthy and familiar with the system and his linemates. Now that he is in a different situation his production is down. It is unfair to say Loui all of a sudden is no good because his numbers are down. Same can be said of Backes. I will judge Backes more based on what he does in the postseason and next season. He clearly has talent but looks a bit lost at times and makes poor decisions. That will hopefully be gone in the near future.

 

[BNHL]

At this rate Loui will have half the goals Loui had. He's having a worse season.

Loui's not playing with Krejci or Bergeron,he's playing with Sutter and Granlund. We already saw what it took for him to feel comfortable,now we're seeing it with Backes,hopefully. In the end we probably let 13 goals get away.

 

[BNHL]

See post #859.

If Backes and Eriksson finish with around the same point totals, the better option is easily Backes.

Neither one is ideal, and it's unfortunate this debate is even possible, but that's how I feel when it comes down to one against the other.

The point comparison is irrelevant since one had 30 goals with Krejci and now plays with inferior players and the other who has played with Krejci and Bergeron is presently struggling for points. But he hits the hell out of people......

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

The point comparison is irrelevant since one had 30 goals with Krejci and now plays with inferior players and the other who has played with Krejci and Bergeron is presently struggling for points. But he hits the hell out of people......

Sorry, if it's Backes vs. Eriksson in their 30's, I take Backes. Just the way I feel. I was never a Loui guy, and I'm still not. I'd rather give the top 6 to younger/more skilled/faster guys and eventually settle for Backes on the third line. Is Backes overpaid? Yes. Not talking about money, however. Loui doesn't play the type of game to be effective on bottom lines and I guarantee you he will be just about done as a top 6 player within a year or two (if not already). When it comes to crappy long-term contracts, which they both have, give me Backes.

 

[Blowfish]

It's a terrible contract however I'm willing to see how he finishes the year with his new linemates. I'm sure he brings some intangibles however a Laneskog over Backes would have looked good right about now. Any chance he waives his no movement clause to ski?

 

[Bmessy]

Vatrano has more PPG game than Backes. Good for Frank, bad for David. Before you yell at me, I know Backes brings other things to the table. But being on pace for barely 40pts this early in his contract is unacceptable. Let's hope he brings it during the stretch. He is a leader but St. Louis did have it's fair share of disappointments, let's hope he's teaching up the kids about that.

 

[BruinDust]

Vatrano has more PPG game than Backes. Good for Frank, bad for David. Before you yell at me, I know Backes brings other things to the table. But being on pace for barely 40pts this early in his contract is unacceptable. Let's hope he brings it during the stretch. He is a leader but St. Louis did have it's fair share of disappointments, let's hope he's teaching up the kids about that.

Backes 2015-16 stats:

79 GP, 21 G, 24 A, 45 points.

Were you expecting a large jump in production coming from St. Louis to Boston?

If anything, the lack of production in the defensive zone as a winger to me makes the contract look bad. If we were getting 40 pts. and the strong, two-way, shutdown center they had in St. Louis, his contract is perfectly fine.

But were not getting that right now.