David Backes did everything he could to get back into the Bruins lineup. After seemingly losing his scoring touch, Backes tried losing weight, working with a figure skating coach and even tried serving as an enforcer of sorts for Boston, hitting and fighting more often when the situation called for it. In the end, it wasn't enough as he was sent to the AHL this week, three and a half years into a five year contract worth $30 million. At the end of the day, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told 98.5 The Sports Hub that he had to consider Backes' health.
"We brought [Backes] in to give us some of that bite," Cassidy admitted. "It was there for a while and then some concussions came into play. I think that affects your decision as a coach when you put a human being on the ice.
"We saw that a little bit last year with David, trying to play a little bit into that role and found himself in two or three scraps. I don't know if that's the ideal role for him. But good for him to go out and try to carve a way to get back into the lineup."
After returning from a concussion suffered on November 2nd during a collision with Scott Sabourin of the Ottawa Senators, Backes suited up in just eight of the Bruins' next 23 games. Cassidy admits to being somewhat uncomfortable putting Backes in the lineup.
"As a coach, I told it to the players, as a guy that you know as a dad, who has two young [kids], you always want to be careful that you're pushing guys to play a certain way," said Cassidy. "Now you've got a guy who knows he might be one hit away from having some damage. You've got to be careful with that. I know it's a business but that is the human side of it."
"That was a bit of an issue for me to push him in that direction."
In 16 games with Boston this season, Backes has just one goal and two assists. He had several good seasons with the St. Louis Blues but did very little after signing his five-year contract with the Bruins. His best season came in 2016-17, when he had 38 points in 74 games. His point production went steadily downhill from there, with 33 in 2017-18 and just 20 the season after that.
Source: 98.5 The Sports Hub
