Despite being assigned to the Boston Bruins’ minor-league affiliate in Providence, David Backes won’t be reporting.
In a brief statement on the Boston Bruins website, General Manager Don Sweeney had the following to say about the David Backes situation:
"“After speaking with David, we have agreed that it is in the best interest of David and the Bruins for him not to play in Providence at this time. David is fit and able to play, but in order to preserve all potential options for both David and the Bruins moving forward, we have decided this is the best course of action.” – Don Sweeney (NHL.com)"
What we can read from this is that David Backes is unwilling to ride the buses in the minor league, which is somewhat understandable. He last appeared in the American Hockey League back in the 2006-07 season with the Peoria Rivermen and was in his thirteenth NHL season this year.
You also have to factor that when he left the St. Louis Blues, he left behind the captaincy and obviously had high expectations, much as the organisation did for him, on what he was doing with the Boston Bruins.
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Unfortunately, for both parties, that hasn’t come to pass and instead the Boston Bruins find themselves struggling to get out from a brutal contract and David Backes, himself, is in a big of a ‘rock and a hard place’ type situation.
The statement released by the Boston Bruins certainly screams out sales pitch, at least to some degree, with the notion of David Backs being ‘fit and able to play’ clearly pointing out that his concussion issues should not be a consideration in any trade approach.
It’s clear, too, that it is the avenue that is being pursued. Again, in the wording of the statement, it’s clear that a trade partner is being sought. There’s no other reason you’d use the term ‘preserve all potential options’ otherwise.
That sentence makes it very clear that he won’t be reporting to Providence, maybe because he doesn’t want to, but more likely because the Boston Bruins have agreed for him not to for fear of an injury making him un-tradeable.
The final detail we grasp from it is that if trade deadline passes and there isn’t a deal, there still is a chance that David Backes is pulling on a Providence Bruins jersey. It only says that he will ‘not play in Providence at this time’, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of him ever not playing in the AHL again!
As much as it’s a frustrating spot, you’ve got to feel for him – the grizzled veteran saw the team he spent 5 years captaining lift the Stanley Cup last year, against his current team, no less.
Then, as well as seeing his hockey skills deteriorating as he gets older, he gets alienated by the fan base for earning too much. Who is he not to accept a big money contract when someone offers one? All in all, it leaves a bit of a sour taste for team and player.