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The Boston Bruins are looking to trade David Backes

By Sam Minton

BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: David Backes #42 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: David Backes #42 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins are looking to make a Stanley Cup run next season. According to reports, the Bruins are looking to get rid of David Backes which would open up their options in free agency.

David Backes isn’t a bad player. He was a solid member of the Boston Bruins 3rd line and plays hockey the right way. He is a grinder who isn’t afraid to go into the corners but still is able to put the puck in the net.

Still Backes is on the wrong side of 30, and the game appears to be blowing by him. TSN’s Darren Dreger is reporting that the Bruins would “like to move on” from Backes.

Backes had an okay season. In 57 games he had 14 goals and 19 assists. Even at his old age Backes was still driving players into the boards, and finding success in the opposition’s zone.

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Besides his age, Backes has a major problem.  In the postseason Backes got drilled and suffered a concussion. That was Backes’s 3rd concussion of his career. He also had to deal with Diverticulitis as well. Backes grinded through these injuries, but he can’t be Superman forever.

Trading Backes is the right move

If the Bruins can find a suitable trade partner it would open things up. The issue is that Backes has a no-movement clause that expires at the end of this season which then becomes a no-trade clause. So it would take a lot for Backes to move.

The Bruins do have leverage in the ability to cut his playtime, but I don’t see it getting to that point.

If the Bruins do unload Backes, it makes it look like they are going to go hard after Ilya Kovalchuk.

This would open up a spot for Kovalchuk to be a veteran presence who can hopefully put up numbers. Kovalchuk is an absolute sniper and if he can keep producing like he did in the KHL he will help the Bruins a lot.

Next: Boston Bruins lock up Matt Grzelcyk with two-year deal

David Backes is on the downslope. The game is changing and it looks like he is unable to keep up. If the Bruins can trade him it will free them up to make some big moves this offseason.

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