DoughtysCheck Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Quote The St. Louis Blues have a decision to make regarding David Backes, but dealing him doesn't appear to be in the cards. A pending unrestricted free agent, Backes is making $4.5 million in the final year of his contract while collecting only 28 points in 51 games, but the team doesn't plan on trading him before the trade deadline. Related: 3 players underwhelming in contract years "The least likely scenario would be to trade him because we're trying to win," general manager Doug Armstrong told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Blues reportedly opened contract talks with Backes in training camp and held a serious round of negotiations. They offered him a three-year deal with an average annual value of about $5.5 million, which the 31-year-old captain turned down, multiple sources told Rutherford. Despite a lack of progress since then and the deadline inching closer, Armstrong isn't considering getting something in return for Backes prior to Feb. 29. "A first-round pick does us no good when we're going to this year's playoffs," the GM said. "I think we're going to be a good team and he's a big part of being a good team. He's our captain, he's our leader. We've had the most points in the NHL over the last five or six years. I mean, he's doing something right. If we didn't want to keep him, we wouldn't have talked to him in the first place. We've got now until March to find out where we're at." Backes won't become a free agent until July 1, but in not moving him, the Blues risk losing him for nothing or paying a premium to outbid other suitors in free agency this summer. The center doesn't seem fazed that he and his club haven't hammered out a new deal, though. "That's OK, but I think both sides are optimistic and believe something is going to get done," Backes said. "I wish I had a magic 8-ball and I could tell you, but I just can’t. The business side needs to make sense on all fronts. I try to keep the team stuff in the front of my mind. The contract, all that stuff, will all take care of itself.” Armstrong is also optimistic. "I've been led to believe that he'd love to stay here,” he said. "From my perspective, there's no question that we want him. Now we've just got to see if the business side works. It's not a personal thing, there's no outlining factors of what we need to see or what he needs. I don't want to speak for him, but this is a business decision." Backes will suit up for his 700th career game Sunday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Lowball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 That Kesler contract really screwed things up for alot of teams I think. Now 50-60 point guys are going to use him as a comparable for what they should be making. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schneider.Man604 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 15 minutes ago, DeNiro said: That Kesler contract really screwed things up for alot of teams I think. Now 50-60 point guys are going to use him as a comparable for what they should be making. Are you tryna say that Kelly finally said hi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripplereh Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 true that and you know what he may get more on the open market but then he will for sure be over paid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Sounds like a classic bargaining move. I don't know why people get their panties in such a bunch about this. You start low, they counter with a high one, you arrive at one in the middle, it's just normal bargaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Strome Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 25 minutes ago, DeNiro said: That Kesler contract really screwed things up for alot of teams I think. Now 50-60 point guys are going to use him as a comparable for what they should be making. This is pretty much the case. Personally I like the way Backes plays but he will likely end up with a contract between 6.5 - 7 million a year which is to much especially given the uncertainty with the cap in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Poor man's Kesler. I don't think that offer is that far off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 If I'm St. Louis, I would trade him. He was never an elite level player at any point in his career but will be asking for minimum of 6.5 million with terms (5 years?). At 31 (soon to be 32), he isn't getting any better and >= 6.5 million dollars salary is going to be a big burden down the road. And it has been proven over and over again that he cannot lead his team deep in the playoffs. It will be the same this year as they will have to play Chicago at some point and he is much inferior player to Toewes so they just won't win. Time to take a different route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down by the River Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Low ball now before the playoffs. If Backes performs well, his camp can counter with a higher offer. If he doesn't perform well, a higher counter by Backes' agent will be rejected by the Blues. They spoke last year and the year before about how they needed to get faster/more skilled to succeed in the playoffs. Backes doesn't step his game up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklehead44 Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 18 minutes ago, khay said: If I'm St. Louis, I would trade him. He was never an elite level player at any point in his career but will be asking for minimum of 6.5 million with terms (5 years?). At 31 (soon to be 32), he isn't getting any better and >= 6.5 million dollars salary is going to be a big burden down the road. And it has been proven over and over again that he cannot lead his team deep in the playoffs. It will be the same this year as they will have to play Chicago at some point and he is much inferior player to Toewes so they just won't win. Time to take a different route. He is on a similar pace to what Kes finished last year. 1 year older. You are bang on at 5 years, 6.5 million (Kes 6 years 6.875 million) Kes is on pace for 18 goals, 37 points, and is getting PAID $7.875 this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueberries Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 I wouldn't give Backes more than 6.5 million a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spotted Zebra Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 If you think Vrabta is bad come playoffs, Backes is almost as bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Backes is probably the most skilled unskilled player in the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 He should've taken it. Blues have Stastny, Lehtera, and Berglund... he's expendable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86Viking Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Backes is a 2nd line C, I wouldnt want him on my team at anything over 5.5m per myself, he has played alot of tough minutes, Will be 32 as a ufa and is having a down year. He would be an ideal fit for Edm. If they moved Draisaitl to wing and traded RNH for a good D man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammertime Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Just my speculation but I don't think the money is wrong for him maybe its the term I'd probably want 5 years with full ntc if I were him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70seven Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 issue here is term. he should easily squeak out 5-6 years on the open market. 5.5 is very close to his appropriate number. this is why they started with 3 years. its a bargaining chip. if he wants more, theyll want to drive the $ aav down. personally i think backes is overrated. not that creative offensively, not great defensively, and average on the draw. hes a grinder that can pot 50-60 points. he got value for sure, but I wouldnt want to break the bank on him. for a guy who seems like he should be the prototypical playoff performer, hes got a whopping 5 goals and 13 points in 29 career games and has led his team to the 2nd round once in 9 seasons. I hope they overpay for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatedkid666 Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Guy is a beast 2nd liner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuktravella Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 hes not worth 5 mill let alone 6 or 7 man the nhl is ridiculous these days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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