Saturday: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that both Backes and Schenn cleared waivers. NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin adds that Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy said that Backes will be given the same break that all NHL players are getting for the all-star break before the team decides whether it will send him to the AHL.
Friday: The Boston Bruins have decided to place veteran forward David Backes on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to the minor leagues. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet adds that Luke Schenn has also been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Backes, 35, has finally worn out his welcome with the Bruins. The former St. Louis Blues captain signed a six-year, $36MM contract with Boston in 2016 but was almost immediately a disappointment. He failed reach the 20-goal mark in his first season with the Bruins, a threshold he had met in each of his previous five full seasons (not counting the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign). Still, at that point he was still at least adding some secondary scoring and providing a physical presence in the lineup on a nightly basis.
Injuries started really affecting that contribution however, which made many look at the deal as a potential problem. By the time the summer of 2019 rolled around Backes was a buyout candidate, and now he finds himself on the way to the minor leagues.
Backes’ $6MM cap hit will not be entirely buried by heading to the AHL. Only $1.075MM is covered by sending him down, and the Bruins will still be on the hook for the entire actual salary. This transaction couldn’t have been done last year when Backes still had a no-movement clause, but this very well could be the end of his time in the NHL.
For Schenn, this the second time he’s found himself on waivers since signing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay. He cleared just before the season began, but now that teams are dealing with injuries there is a chance he gets grabbed for a short-term fix. The 30-year old has 749 games of NHL experience under his belt, though is obviously not an extremely effective option at this point in his career.
Thank god. Backes can help providence develop some younger players
Wish Backes would retire and have a front office role with the Blues!!
Is there cap savings if he retires?
Backes, 1st Rounder, and a prospect to Ottawa for Pageau. Then move Coyle up to the wing on the second line.
Nice trade idea, JD! Salaries work, some cap relief for the B’s. Now to convince Pierre…
I could be wrong but I think Backes would have to be convinced as well and I don’t know if that would happen.
Do you really think The Senators would do that? Don’t get me wrong, I certainly wish that they would.
They’ve taken on a lot of other teams bad contracts already and I’m pretty sure Phaneuf, Gaborik, Callahan, and Andy’s contracts expire this year so they’ll need to reach the floor somehow. It probably would depend on the prospect going back to even out Backes’ negative value though.
If Ott is taken on a bad contract, or one that the guy isn’t playing anymore, Ott has shown you don’t have to give them very much!
Callahan and a 5th for Condon?
What did they save?
Oh that’s right they gave TB the room to sign Point, stupid Dorian had to get more for that!!!!
Which Bs prospect could get it done do you think?
Forsbaka -Karlsson is my choice for the prospect,
If your Boston do you make that trade if it’s say boby Ryan, Logan Brown and Ottawa’s 2nd (cause Ottawa’s first and Boston’s 1st aren’t on the same level)
@bigdaddyt – Bobby’s got the old Modified NTC/NMC making him a potentially difficult trade.
Yeah, he’s got a 15-team trade list (per CapFriendly). Seems unlikely that OTT would be on that list, wouldn’t it?