Trading David Backes: Is Now The Time?

David Backes, our favorite current St. Louis Blues captain, has made headlines regularly in these dog days of August. He has been referred to as a possible trade, a PIM liability for the Blues, one of the best captains in the league, one of the worst captains in the league, and more.

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Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson had the following to say on the possibility of a Backes trade, cautioning fans that their captain could be on his last legs in St. Louis. Per the article:

"The Blues are a dominant regular-season team that has consistently come up short in the playoffs. As team captain, Backes will be under considerable pressure this season to get them over the hump. With nearly $52 million invested in 12 players under one-way contracts for 2016-17, the Blues could find it difficult to re-sign Backes to a lucrative new deal."

Is it the right time to trade David Backes? His cap hit, and timing on his contract might suggest so. Backes is in the last year of his contract, and will be 32 by the time his contract expires. This article by Money Puck at Canucks Army shows that 32 is pretty much the last time forwards are at all productive, and the Blues will be well aware of that, as will any team willing to sign him July 1.

The first concern any fan – and the front office – might have is the salary cap. After signing Tarasenko to a huge deal this summer (though surprisingly cost-effective, given his skill level), Armstrong will look to squeeze every penny he can out of St. Louis’s coffers come next summer.

The majority of large cap-hits (Tarasenko, Stastny Pietrangelo, Steen, Bouwmeester) are locked up with the Blues for years to come. With Jaskin, Brouwer, Gunnarsson, Ott, Backes and Paajarvi’s contracts all coming due at once, the Blues will have tough decisions to make as to who will stay and who will go.

Cutting Steve Ott from the list will help, but his $2.6 million dollars isn’t the largest salary on the team, and David Backes may be the next on the list.

His leadership is considered impressive among teammates; he shows up and works hard, leading by example. But that might not be the view that front office management has of his play, particularly considering their recent playoffs exit.

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Backes, along with the rest of the Blues, seemed to simply give up in the postseason. He looked exhausted, and like he had no fight left in him by the end of the six-game series against the Minnesota Wild. It was not pretty to watch, and a downright disheartening sight for Blues fans. A move like this might revitalize the team in postseason, putting the fear of trades into them, but it could also backfire on the Blues spectacularly.

How so?

First, the Blues might have to then face off against Backes. Should they send him to an in-conference rival, such as Minnesota, he’d bring his sky-high PIM and boards-bashing style with him. Backes plays a physical game, and the only time you’re safe from him, it seems, is when you’re on his team.

Additionally, Backes and his on-ice style have defined the St. Louis Blues for years at this point. Hitchcock, who is with the team indefinitely, by my point of view, loves that lead-with-grit style, which is one of the reasons why Backes has been so successful on the Blues.

Hitchcock is like Schroëdinger’s coach – he’ll be the coach forever, and never again simultaneously, thanks to his taking so many one-year contracts in a row.

This might not be a popular move, but it has the potential to be the right one.

But Backes, who is so good at getting his team through the regular season, seems to hit the wall when it comes to the post. As his age climbs ever-higher, and his production begins to level off, and then drop, St. Louis may find it smarter and more cost-effective to trade him.

If the Blues do intend on trading Backes, deadline is the time to do so. Backes can lead the Blues through the regular season, giving it his usual 110%, and then the younger crowd can take over for St. Louis, with Tarasenko and Shattenkirk leading the charge from the offensive and defensive zone.

However, should they do so, it will be a large shock to the system for many Blues players. Shake-ups are not uncommon in the NHL, but rarely does a team get rid of its captain right before playoffs.

This might not be a popular move, but it has the potential to be the right one.

Next: Bouwmeester Will Bounce Back

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