Keep those guys! Trade Debrusk for Lucic and Klefbom.
The playoffs were a real challenge for Backes, so for all of his physicality and grit and gumption and intangibles...he couldn't really do much of anything on the ice.
As sweet as it sounds to trade Krejci and Backes, I think we need to remember that the UFA market is pretty thin and none of our current roster/prospects are ready to take on #2C role as of yet. I would absolutely trade Backes for a tin of skoal and 24 beers but Krejci is a different story. Unless Krejci is going out with a prospect and we're getting a surefire #2c coming back, I think he needs to stay.
I think Backes deserves a break considering what he went through last year.Unless you have a replacement it doesn’t make sense to move on from Krejci. I’m a fan of his but have been clamoring to trade him since we drafted Tyler Seguin. At this point this team is a contender and unless you are upgrading we can’t afford to loose him. I’m not opposed to trading the Backes contract but I think he was an important part of turning around the leadership that had us missing the playoffs two years in a row.
I think Backes deserves a break considering what he went through last year.
I'm giving him a mulligan.
Even if Backes had a rough season last year due to injury, I don’t think we need him moving forward. Let’s say the Bruins sign Kovalchuk for 2 years, it would be nice to move Backes’s $6M. Guys like Heinen, Donato, or Bjork can fit right in on 3rd line RW.
Backes would have so much more value to this team if he was used in the middle.
The problem with playing him at 3C is that A) the team is thin at right-shot RW and B) it potentially blocks one of our younger guys from being groomed to take Krejci/Bergeron's spot. The latter is pretty important because the team needs to start planning for one or both of those guys to be supplanted soon before age-related decline catches up. Can't depend on them both having the longevity that Chara has had.Backes as a 3C is perfect with me. As a 4RW or basically any RW I'm not thrilled but I like him as a player. Old school guy.
I expect them to compete for that spot. If they're not ready, I expect someone to have taken it by the end of the season.Are you saying you believe one of either tfred or jfk is ready for 3c minutes?
Who plays center if we sign Nash and Kovalchuk? Re-sign Riley as a #2? Hope one of Frederic/JFK are ready? Dreger said teams were inquiring about Krejci, but you have to think the answer is "no" unless there is another deal out there being looked at for a center that we haven't heard about (I consider Tavares a LOOOOOOONG shot to sign here).
Heinen was drafted as a center and I believe played a year in college as a center (might be wrong on that last point). I could definitely see him growing into a #2C role.I’m not counting out Heinen for 3C yet either. The guy is on a Krejci like career trajectory. Caught fire in the AHL playoffs, came over and had a solid rookie season in the NHL. Actually Heinen scored more points his rookie year and in his playoff run with Providence, so I’d be interested to see what he looks like at center. He’s not bad defensively either.
I’m not counting out Heinen for 3C yet either. The guy is on a Krejci like career trajectory. Caught fire in the AHL playoffs, came over and had a solid rookie season in the NHL. Actually Heinen scored more points his rookie year and in his playoff run with Providence, so I’d be interested to see what he looks like at center. He’s not bad defensively either.
ALSO REMEMBER, Bergeron played in Providence at 19....That would be nice- If I remember right (It was so long ago!) Bergeron played on the wing his rookie year also- right? It may just be that a try at center was always in the plans for Heinen once he learned some basics of the pro game.
Heinen was drafted as a center and I believe played a year in college as a center (might be wrong on that last point). I could definitely see him growing into a #2C role.
That would be nice- If I remember right (It was so long ago!) Bergeron played on the wing his rookie year also- right? It may just be that a try at center was always in the plans for Heinen once he learned some basics of the pro game.