Blues reporter hints at potential Bruins move involving David Backes (Updated)
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
UPDATE: The Bruins are trading David Backes, a 2020 first-round pick, and defenseman Axel Andersson to the Ducks for winger Ondrej Kase. The B’s will retain 25 percent of Backes’ salary.
The Bruins are still firmly entrenched in the trade market ahead of next Monday’s NHL trade deadline. And now it sounds like David Backes could be one of the players headed out.
Blues TV reporter Andy Strickland fired off an interesting tweet on Friday. He’s close with Backes from the forward’s time in St. Louis. Strickland says to “expect” a move from the Bruins involving Backes before the trade deadline and that it’s likely a deal with a team in the Western Conference.
Expect a move involving David Backes before Monday’s trade deadline. Likely moving back to the Western Conference. #Bruins
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) February 21, 2020
That doesn’t necessarily mean Backes is headed right back to the Blues. But it does mean that the Bruins appear to be making a serious push to unload Backes’ contract, at least cut it in half from their books. It’d probably be part of, or a precursor to, a bigger move to bolster the Bruins’ lineup ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
Moving Backes’ money isn’t totally essential to acquiring one of the big-name wingers available at the trade deadline. But it would certainly make this year and next year more palatable. A trade target such as Kyle Palmieri from the Devils would be due $4.65 million in 2020-21.
We’ll keep you updated on this as news comes in. Things continue to heat up in Boston with just three days to go until the NHL trade deadline.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].