Player Discussion David Backes

[RedeyeRocketeer]

They could get you 40 but not bring nearly as much to the table as backes does

Only difference between backes and Thornton is that one is good at hockey

You brought up leadership. I'm just saying we got a ton from Ferrence and Sugar on the cheap. You don't have to spend 6m for leadership. And why are you spending all that money on Krejci-Bergeron-Marchand-Chara etc if nobody is a leader? Mistake were obviously made.

 

[since76]

Almost all analysts said backes contract was by far the worst of ufa , and they were right
It is just terrible, terrible terrible and will be worst year after year
Good work sweeny

 

[JEM28]

So why wasnt there a decline in salary to match??

Doesn't work that way. The league is riddled with guys making more than they are worth, based on past performance, rather than realistic projections.

 

[CDJ]

You brought up leadership. I'm just saying we got a ton from Ferrence and Sugar on the cheap. You don't have to spend 6m for leadership. And why are you spending all that money on Krejci-Bergeron-Marchand-Chara etc if nobody is a leader? Mistake were obviously made.

There is obviously more to him than just leadership. Saying that we are spending 6 mill on leadership is disingenuous. That's just part of what makes him a 6 million dollar guy on the market. He's a rare breed in this league.

And he is a different kind of leader than any of the other guys- from all accounts he's fiery and holds guys accountable whereas the others seem to lead more by example. Having a bunch of different high character guys is a nice thing to have. You got incredibly hard workers with bonafide credibility leading by example in chara and Bergeron. You got a guy like Marchand who keeps things loose. It's a nice thing for team chemistry to have this nice mix. For the most part this year I have seen the team with a higher compete level relative to last year. Having Backes and his intensity is certainly a part of that, at least imo

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

There is obviously more to him than just leadership. Saying that we are spending 6 mill on leadership is disingenuous. That's just part of what makes him a 6 million dollar guy on the market. He's a rare breed in this league.

And he is a different kind of leader than any of the other guys- from all accounts he's fiery and holds guys accountable whereas the others seem to lead more by example. Having a bunch of different high character guys is a nice thing to have. You got incredibly hard workers with bonafide credibility leading by example in chara and Bergeron. You got a guy like Marchand who keeps things loose. It's a nice thing for team chemistry to have this nice mix. For the most part this year I have seen the team with a higher compete level relative to last year. Having Backes and his intensity is certainly a part of that, at least imo

All the cups and Western conference finals appearances he's had leads me to agree.

 

[CDJ]

Mmmmmm yes, he is responsible for his teams losses, great argument


No bad teams have ever had players who were good in the locker room. No leaders on any of those teams. These are just facts right?

Yeah this debate is over

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

Mmmmmm yes, he is responsible for his teams losses, great argument


No bad teams have ever had players who were good in the locker room. No leaders on any of those teams. These are just facts right?

Yeah this debate is over

St Louis Blues, perenially bad team.

2015-2016, 2nd in central
2014-2015 1st in central
2013-2014 2nd in central
2012-2013 2nd in central
2011-2012 1st in central

bad teams

Sochi: no medal
Vancouver: loses to Canada
Awards: nothing
All-star: once


He's a lot of things, but a winner isn't one of them. He's a 6m guy who might get you 20g's, and gives you "leadership". There was no leadership before Claude got fired as far as anyone can tell. Now that said if there's anyone that hopes he starts scoring in bunches, it's me. No way the team amounts to anything without it. He's got to perform with the minutes and linemates he has now.

 

[CDJ]

You are literally arguing a claim I didn't make. I said he's a leader. You implied he wasn't because his teams lose. That's ****ing preposterous. Using that logic anybody that has ever captained a team that doesn't go to the conference finals brings nothing to the table as far as leadership goes

And lol at using him not winning a gold medal as an argument against him

It's tough to take you seriously man


He's a good player to have for his skill, size, and intangibles who got his market value. He's a good leader. End of story.

Edit: I will add this- yes he is overpaid but I don't think it's a drastic overpay and everybody who hits UFA ends up overpaid. That's why building through UFA doesn't work- overpaying for a need or a desired skill set here and there is fine and happens with basically every team at some point or another. And if I think you're going to overpay for a guy then you do it for a guy like Backes, who is a rare kind of player

 

[jgatie]

Well, now that Claude is gone, I guess we've found where the negative nellies are going to hang out while the bear is dancing in the PGT's.

 

[since76]

Well, now that Claude is gone, I guess we've found where the negative nellies are going to hang out while the bear is dancing in the PGT's.

Negative is gone with him )))) now it is just more light problems, this team go in very good direction

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

This contract haunts my dreams. He's lost more than just a step, he's lost several. Hands are not great, passing is not great, skating obviously not great. But leadership!

 

[CDJ]

Preposterous statement


His production is down a hair. That changes with one good night. To say he's lost several steps is LOL funny


Glad they have him instead of Loui. Significantly more useful player now and going forward



Typical LF the day after a loss

 

[LouJersey]

This contract haunts my dreams. He's lost more than just a step, he's lost several. Hands are not great, passing is not great, skating obviously not great. But leadership!

Meh he's not a winger. He'd be fine as a center. He's not terrible on the wing though. I think he's miscast a bit and if he was signed to be a RW exclusively I'm wondering why.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

Preposterous statement


His production is down a hair. That changes with one good night. To say he's lost several steps is LOL funny


Glad they have him instead of Loui. Significantly more useful player now and going forward



Typical LF the day after a loss

Oh I've been saying this all year. Today is nothing new.

If you wanted to pay 6m to a .5 ppg player, there were a lot of younger options out there, believe me. All would have happily taken 6m forever.

 

[CDJ]

And I'm saying it's preposterous for you to say he has lost several steps


And it is. It is factually incorrect




PS- he has a 3 assist night and he's all of a sudden a 50 point guy who plays a strong 2 way game with physicality and a locker room presence. Easily worth 6 on the open market

How's your boy Loui doing on the other hand? Some posters who have been *****ing about Backes wanted him instead of Backes this offseason. It's very interesting.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Sweeney's big move not working out. Beleskey, Hayes Backes. All Sweeney and Cam

 

[BNHL]

And I'm saying it's preposterous for you to say he has lost several steps


And it is. It is factually incorrect




PS- he has a 3 assist night and he's all of a sudden a 50 point guy who plays a strong 2 way game with physicality and a locker room presence. Easily worth 6 on the open market

How's your boy Loui doing on the other hand? Some posters who have been *****ing about Backes wanted him instead of Backes this offseason. It's very interesting.

Except,when talking about Loui,we're talking about a player who had 60 points with Krejci,despite Krejci admitting he was injured around game 64. Loui is not playing with Krejci in Vancouver and has shown once before he's slow to adjust. That's an understanding I'll have to afford Backes,that he's had a hard time adjusting,though at both their ages,the inevitable decline does usually begin.

 

[Fenian24]

Only forward that brings a physical game every night. Hits, creates screens and room for Marchand and Bergeron, solid two way player, is considered one of the better leaders around the league.

Sorry he isn’t a skilled superstar like Tobias Rieder or Jiri Hudler or he isn’t a 19 year old prospect who skates well and doesn’t hit but may produce at a similar level but look better doing it.

David Backes is not a problem on this team. Period.

 

[CDJ]

Only forward that brings a physical game every night. Hits, creates screens and room for Marchand and Bergeron, solid two way player, is considered one of the better leaders around the league.

Sorry he isn’t a skilled superstar like Tobias Rieder or Jiri Hudler or he isn’t a 19 year old prospect who skates well and doesn’t hit but may produce at a similar level but look better doing it.

David Backes is not a problem on this team. Period.

Pretty much.

I don't understand Bruins fans sometimes. If they didn't add a guy like Backes they would be complaining about the lack of quality forwards even more than they are currently

He's a pretty critical component to this team with his physicality and versatility combined with pretty good skill. Everybody gets overpaid in UFA so if you're going to overpay someone do it on a player that has a skillset that is hard to replicate. Backes is just that

 

[EverettMike]

Uh, he looks like he's lost at least one step if not two.

I've heard Backes fans say as much.

And I didn't want them to sign Loui either, so please find another way to attack my milquetoast opinion that Backes hasn't looked as good as he used to.

 

[Salem13]

Sweeney's big move not working out. Beleskey, Hayes Backes. All Sweeney and Cam

Think about what these three players should bring.

Size, hitting, snarl, real NHL space makers ... now stare at the last three letters in your post.

 

[finchster]

Signing a 32-year-old player to a six year contract was/is stupid. I wanted Kyle Okposo if we were going to sign a guy for 6 years.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Uh, he looks like he's lost at least one step if not two.

I've heard Backes fans say as much.

And I didn't want them to sign Loui either, so please find another way to attack my milquetoast opinion that Backes hasn't looked as good as he used to.

I am most underwhelmed by his lack of skill. Even Lucic was skilled, just lumbering. He has physicality but very lacking with the puck. I trusted Loui with the puck at least.

 

[Dr Hook]

I don't think Backes has been bad, but he hasn't been great either- he's had a few great games, and some poor ones. I like him, and have for a long time, but he's been disappointing for me. He was our big FA signing over the summer and I expected him to bring a little more than he has. He does seem slower than he was 3-4 years ago. I never expected him to produce mass points, but I have expected him to be better in the clutch moments, and to be a bit more reliable with the puck. So, not terrible, but not what most of us expected going in, and that term is looking ugly if indeed Backes is in the terminal decline stage of his career.

 

[LSCII]

Here's the reality. Backes has been what he usually is. The problem is that the team needs more than what he's actually capable of doing at this point in his career. So to me, it's not a Backes issue. It's a team problem and one that the guy they've decided would be part of the solution is actually miscast in that role as he's not that kind of player.