This is getting some run today. Backes and Cassidy had a sit down meeting before the game in Vegas to discuss Backes’ role and and place on the team. Backes apparently has decided to go the enforcer route. He has had 3 fights in 6 games since the meeting.
Appreciate Backes trying to do what he can, but I hope they sit him down and tell him he doesn’t need to do this every night.
There is also the fact that he is a pretty poor fighter.
Can't say I'm a big fan of the approach. But he seems to be embracing the role..."I think it's clean. I think it's hard and clean. It's shoulder-chest and you know, if guys are going to be running at our skilled guys then we have to keep them accountable," Backes said of the fight. "Give credit to him — he obliges and we go at it and you know, I think it was a decent fight. But the hit I think is clean and hard. One of our good skill players gets hurt and I felt it was pretty aggressive and we needed to have an answer for it."
Agreed. The right retaliation there is to cleanly crush the guy or one (or all) of Carolina’s skilled players.I think it's stupid and the exact type of fight that should be out of the game. It's a clean hit, get over it.
Ehhhhhh. I see where you’re coming from, but I struggle with this. My job and incumbent lifestyle make me much more likely to die of cancer or heart disease. Coal miners still mine. I guess he’s got a contract and isn’t providing strict, sustenance-level requirements in exchange for his health, but neither are we, right?It's nice that he seems unconcerned with the concussion risks. I wonder what his wife and kids think about it.
I keep forgetting about that. Glad they're already looking ahead to that.Vaakanainen is also playing well but they’ll want to avoid him playing 8 more NHL games to keep him exempt from the Seattle expansion draft.
No need to worry. His no move becomes a modified (15 team) no trade on 7/1/19. They won’t have to protect him.I keep forgetting about that. Glad they're already looking ahead to that.
It's gonna suck if Backes won't waive his NMC and will force them to use a protection slot on him.
Sweet!No need to worry. His no move becomes a modified (15 team) no trade on 7/1/19. They won’t have to protect him.
https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/boston-bruins/david-backes-2071/
It's nice that we don't have to protect him, but nobody is taking that corpse.Sweet!
Looking at it again, if the draft is in June 2021 he’ll be a free agent a couple weeks later anyway.It's nice that we don't have to protect him, but nobody is taking that corpse.
Pretty sure players that are about to be UFAs are disregarded for purposes of the expansion draft.Looking at it again, if the draft is in June 2021 he’ll be a free agent a couple weeks later anyway.
That was my point. I thought he had a year left but after looking at it again his contract is expiring so they can disregard him. I feel like they’re in a lot better shape for this one.Pretty sure players that are about to be UFAs are disregarded for purposes of the expansion draft.
Coyle was markedly less effective on the wing. The sooner they get him back to the 3C role, the better. The third line was a tire fire last night.Krejci needs to send out an SOS. He needs one of DeBrusk/Pasta back asap, simply can't carry a line with no help.
Cehlarik seems to have regressed after being send down to PRO, his game has been terrible since coming back up and I'm a big fan of his. He has been a turnover machine and soft on the puck.
I'd like to see more of Coyle with Krej in the interim but really don't think that is a long term fit since they are both pass first possession players neither strong finishers, Krej recent goal scoring not withstanding.
These are both excellent points. Last night was too much tinkering. The first 30 min were horrible with all sorts of new and different combos being tried. The team did great during the run but they need to get guys back and get lineups stabilized.Coyle was markedly less effective on the wing. The sooner they get him back to the 3C role, the better. The third line was a tire fire last night.
They are missing three of their top six forwards (Pasta, DeBrusk and Johannson). It's definitely catching up to them now.
This is an interesting point. Do you think Heinen was demoted last night or they were trying to get Krejci's line moving? I'm worried if its the former. He's been excellent and was excellent last night.I think now is the time for mixing and matching. The lines aren't going to be ideal with so many players out, why not experiment and see if certain players can work together. Even if it's not something that's permanent, it's good to know for future reference. Guys will get hurt in the playoffs and they're going to have to change lines.
If Pasta hadn't gotten hurt, we never would have seen Heinen work on the 1st line. Coyle and Krejci didn't look comfortable together at all last night. Maybe they would with a few more games, but it's definitely good to figure these things out before the playoffs start and every single shift is so important.
I think they were trying to get Krejci's line going. Cehlarik was awful, and I think the assumption was Heinen would give them a boost.This is an interesting point. Do you think Heinen was demoted last night or they were trying to get Krejci's line moving? I'm worried if its the former. He's been excellent and was excellent last night.
I agree completely on the line combos. That is deep and dangerous. Hopefully everyone comes back as their normal self. The great thing about Heinen on the big line is they haven't lost any production, as you said, but they are much better defensively. They have scored 11 goals together and given up only 1. I think they are a legit shutdown line while also being one of the most productive offensive forces in the league. I want them to stick together.Also, 63-37-43 has scored at a slightly higher rate than 63-37-88. 3.6 goals/60 vs. 3.5 goals/60. Not a significant difference, but it goes to show that they don’t need to have Pasta there. Heinen has acquitted himself nicely, 16 points in his last 17 games since moving up there. They should be leave that line alone when Pastrnak is healthy, and give Pasta a longer look with Krejci and, health permitting, Jake DeBrusk.
Getting ahead here, but I think my game 1 forward group would be:
Marchand - Bergeron - Heinen
DeBrusk - Krejci - Pastrnak
Johansson - Coyle - Backes
Kuraly - Acciari - Wagner
I think that is a bit more balanced. They’ll always have the big line to fall back on.