Player Discussion David Backes

[remer]

Backes will be a slow and gradual decline if the Bruins are lucky.

2013-14 St. Louis Blues NHL 74 27 30 57
2014-15 St. Louis Blues NHL 80 26 32 58
2015-16 St. Louis Blues NHL 79 21 24 45
2016-17 Boston Bruins NHL 58 13 18 31

Likely four more years at 6 million a year.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

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.

This does sum it up. I just assumed he'd have more skill in his game.

 

[EverettMike]

This thread went totally quiet for the last two weeks - then one bad game and BOOM we're all back at it this morning

He was demoted in the third period to the 4th line, in a one goal game, against a divisional opponent, late in the season.

Maybe this isn't exactly a normal bad game, you know?

He was a ghost last night. Isn't last night exactly the type of game he was signed to be a presence in?

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

Not making excuses for him, nor saying we should have re-signed Loui or kept Lucic.

But here are the stats of the 3, as those were likely the 2 options we had in the past few seasons and decided not to go long term with, and then opted to go with Backes. Other UFA's that were available were Kyle Okposo, Andrew Ladd, and Alexander Radulov (I don't think Radulov was a realistic option, but the others may have been)

Alexander Radulov: 63 GP, 15 G, 31 A, 46 PT, 56 PIM, 6
Kyle Okposo: 63 GP, 19 G, 24 A, 43 PT, 22 PIM, -6
Milan Lucic: 65 GP, 14 G, 22 A, 36 PT, 41 PIM, -6
David Backes: 58 GP, 13 G, 18 A, 31 PT, 61 PIM, -1
Loui Eriksson: 65 GP, 11 G, 13 A, 24 PT, 8 PIM, -9
Andrew Ladd: 60 GP, 17 G, 6 A, 23 PT, 34 PIM, -13

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

He was demoted in the third period to the 4th line, in a one goal game, against a divisional opponent, late in the season.

Maybe this isn't exactly a normal bad game, you know?

He was a ghost last night. Isn't last night exactly the type of game he was signed to be a presence in?

4th line is for leaders

 

[KrejciMVP]

4th line is for leaders

Bruins are still getting by with Chias team. Sweeney has added nothing substantial

 

[Over the volcano]

He was demoted in the third period to the 4th line, in a one goal game, against a divisional opponent, late in the season.

Maybe this isn't exactly a normal bad game, you know?

He was a ghost last night. Isn't last night exactly the type of game he was signed to be a presence in?

Nope

http://www.nhl.com/stats/shiftcharts?id=2016020970

 

[Alan Ryan]

I think that's exactly what it is - my biggest gripe with julien was his resistance to put players where they obviously should be - and if he ever did make the switch it was always too late (I firmly believe his decision to saddlery Bergy and Marchand with Jagr and play Seguin on the third line instead of Horton who had a dislocated shoulder cost us a second cup and I'll stand by that)


And now Cassidy is guilty of that too to a degree, I really think Pasta needs to be with Bergeron and Marchand, and Backes should center the third line. He looks way more comfortably at center and it would give us a lot more depth and balance in the line up

Backes should indeed be at center on the third line. Mix and match wingers until the right combinations are found.

 

[Over the volcano]

Backes should indeed be at center on the third line. Mix and match wingers until the right combinations are found.

Yup.

 

[Estlin]

bingo.

I want to take a minute here to pat myself on the back for calling this a bad signing from jumpstreet. I didn't realize it would be this bad this fast, but i guess it is. I don't get much right so i'm taking my victory lap on this one. This was a bad contract in money and a terrible one in term.

As for how many steps he's lost, it almost doesn't matter. I'd argue that if you forgot what he used to be, he's not a $6m player right now. Players on pace for 44 points who are consistently a step behind their linemates regardless of who their linemates are are not $6m players. And the leadership stuff is just an excuse...you want to throw him a few extra bucks for experience fine, but that doesn't add up to $6m.

This was a contract that was intended to pay dividends the first few years before he reached a potential breaking down point. I'd argue it's not paying dividends now, at all. And lest anyone suggest it's defensible because he's "here for the playoffs", that isn't a good look on sweeney to come off two playoff misses in a row, supposedly be developing for the future and throw a bad contract at a guy because he's a "playoff guy". Talk about planning for a longshot.

every one of those deals is a bad one and surely he wouldn't repeat them. Nor the liles deal, the hayes trade, the irwin signing, keeping loui for a playoff run. All bad choices.

The problem with the backes deal which makes it the worst, imo, is that the term has the real chance of creating cap issues on a team that might be young and good in 3 years. They went after a pr splash when they couldn't land a dman and gambled that backes was strength down the middle that would net out as better team defense. It was a bad strategic move right away, and that contract sucks.

It's hard to disagree with what you've written.

 

[LouJersey]

58 games into a 4 year deal we are declaring Backes an unmitigated disaster?

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

58 games into a 4 year deal we are declaring Backes an unmitigated disaster?

alot of fans are baffled why real nhl teams line up to give vetern defense savy leaders 6 million dollar salaries. they are baffled when coaches play gritty defense savy vets 18+ mins per night on top lines

honestly its ok if these fans dont get it. they need something to complain about to feel like they are doing their part to improve the team,

personally i tend to stick to math. theres 30 teams in the league...1 cup winner. most teams wont win the cup

23 players per team... 720 in the league... most players wont rank in the top 100

i admire these other fans who have the energy to complain every time we lose a game and everytime a player has an off game. i would find it exhausting

 

[Trap Jesus]

Nope

http://www.nhl.com/stats/shiftcharts?id=2016020970

Good god that awful shift by the Krejci line/Chara pairing REALLY stands out.

 

[Over the volcano]

58 games into a 4 year deal we are declaring Backes an unmitigated disaster?

That's not fair - some people called it an unmitigated disaster long before game 58

 

[HumBucker]

How about we get through the season and (hopefully) the playoffs before we declare the guy a bust.

 

[EverettMike]

alot of fans are baffled why real nhl teams line up to give vetern defense savy leaders 6 million dollar salaries. they are baffled when coaches play gritty defense savy vets 18+ mins per night on top lines

honestly its ok if these fans dont get it. they need something to complain about to feel like they are doing their part to improve the team,

personally i tend to stick to math. theres 30 teams in the league...1 cup winner. most teams wont win the cup

23 players per team... 720 in the league... most players wont rank in the top 100

i admire these other fans who have the energy to complain every time we lose a game and everytime a player has an off game. i would find it exhausting

Speaking of exhausting, get over yourself.

 

[Hali33]

I think it's fair to be underwhelmed by Backes' play so far and concerned, especially given these were supposed to be the good years that justify the more riskier part of the 5 year contract.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

I think it's fair to be underwhelmed by Backes' play so far and concerned, especially given these were supposed to be the good years that justify the more riskier part of the 5 year contract.

This is the most concerning part of it. This year is supposed to be a good year. Next year is supposed to be a good year. Then we were supposed to be ok with him dropping off. If years 1-2 start off bad, yowza.

 

[CDJ]

Nope

http://www.nhl.com/stats/shiftcharts?id=2016020970

**** facts man, let them have their narrative

Also Backes is apparently making 6:36, adjust your reality accordingly


My argument- if you are gonna bash the guy let's at least know what we are bashing. Please? One time for me HF, ONE TIME

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

alot of fans are baffled why real nhl teams line up to give vetern defense savy leaders 6 million dollar salaries. they are baffled when coaches play gritty defense savy vets 18+ mins per night on top lines

honestly its ok if these fans dont get it. they need something to complain about to feel like they are doing their part to improve the team,

personally i tend to stick to math. theres 30 teams in the league...1 cup winner. most teams wont win the cup

23 players per team... 720 in the league... most players wont rank in the top 100

i admire these other fans who have the energy to complain every time we lose a game and everytime a player has an off game. i would find it exhausting

Not so fast, Slick. You're not arguing that he's been a good top six player for us so far, are you? I mean, he's not Beleskey-bad, but he's not really what you would call a "really good" player, is he? He's not bad, but he's not great, either. Honestly, I have expected more from him this year. And, since he's likely to decline over the next several years, you can't really blame people for being very apprehensive. Can you?

 

[Fenway]

Please continue here

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2200069