Ducks Acquire Backes, Andersson and first-round pick from Bruins for Kase

The Ducks have acquired forward David Backes, defenseman Axel Andersson and Boston's first-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft from the Bruins for right wing Ondrej Kase.
Backes, 35 (5/1/84), has earned 245-309=554 points with 1,138 penalty minutes (PIM) in 944 career NHL games with Boston (2016-20) and St. Louis (2006-16). Backes has also appeared in 82 career games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording 17-22=39 points with 63 PIM with the Blues and Bruins.

Selected by St. Louis in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Backes played his first 10 NHL seasons with the Blues before signing as a free agent with the Bruins July 1, 2016. Backes has scored 20-or-more goals in six of his 14 NHL seasons, including a career-high 31 goals in 2010-11 and 2008-09.
A native of Minneapolis, MN, Backes is a two-time Olympian who won silver with Team USA at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. The 6-3, 215-pound forward also represented the U.S. Men's National Team at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the 2007, 2008 and 2009 World Championships, and 2016 World Cup. In 36 career international games with Team USA, Backes has recorded 6-10=16 points with 82 PIM.
Andersson, 20 (2/10/00), has earned 2-20=22 points with a +16 rating in 41 games with Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season. The 6-0, 180-pound defenseman ranked second among Moncton blueliners in assists and led in power-play assists (8). A native of Jarna, Sweden, Andersson was selected by Boston in the second round (57th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. Andersson has represented Sweden in several international tournaments, including the 2017-18 Under-18 World Junior Championship (bronze) and 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (gold).
Kase, 24 (11/8/95), collected 43-53=96 points with a +10 rating and 44 PIM in 198 career NHL games with the Ducks. The 6-0, 190-pound forward also appeared in 13 career Stanley Cup Playoff games with Anaheim, scoring two goals (2-0=2). Selected by Anaheim in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Kase earned 7-16=23 points with 10 PIM in 49 games with the Ducks this season. The Kadan, Czech Republic native was the first player selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Draft to reach the NHL.
Ducks Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray spoke with members of the media about the trade:
On the trade
With where this organization is at, any time you can add a first-round pick, it's important. Some of these deals, this took a long time to come together. Boston has been around for a long time, as were a few other teams. It's good to a get a first. Us taking David [Backes] had a factor in that. It's something we didn't mind doing right now.
On using available cap space
We've said over and over again we have the cap space. We might as well use it while we have it. We're using it here. We're coming out better in the cash situation this year in this deal than we were yesterday. We're using some cap room. [Bruins general manager] Donny [Sweeney] was good in this. It's a tough deal to make. Ondrej had been injured. It was just a tough deal. We talked it over and over. It finally came together in the last couple of nights.
On Backes' situation
He sounds very eager. He wanted to get on a plane right away. His kids are in Florida at the moment. It must be spring break or something. I said 'Shouldn't you say goodbye to them before you're gone for a while?' [Laughs]. I don't know what his plan is. He's eager. I'm sure with the proud veteran player like that, who's been a leader all his life, he wants to show. I get the sense he wants to show everybody he can still play. He was to go at it the right way. He's quite anxious to do that.
On Backes' leadership
One of my biggest disappointments so far this year is leadership. Hopefully this helps with that. It's part of my thinking.
On Andersson
He's a right-handed shot. He's a good player all over the ice. He's a smart Swedish kid playing in the Quebec league. He's a competitive kid who plays good hockey. He moves the puck. I've watched him since he was 15. All your scouts, when they send in a report, want him in a trade. Up and down the list, they wanted him in a trade. I've seen him, and so has [Ducks Director of Player Development] Todd [Marchant]. They've drafted very well, so there was a little back and forth. Donny and I had a few laughs over this. He's got some good prospects, and he was [upset] because I took his one right-hand shot defenseman. He took away everybody else, for God's sake, so I had to have something.
On Andersson's timeline
He still needs to finish junior. Maybe a couple years before he plays. Defensemen, they take time. Every time you hurry a young defenseman, you could wreck their careers. Just like goalies. With defensemen, you need to be careful. We're hoping to have enough young defensemen over the next little while. Gain some assets so we don't have to hurry anybody.
On making changes to the roster
We have to maneuver things. It's not like Ondrej is old. We had a few guys too many like that. I thought we were a little small. It was an opportunity to maybe change that a little bit. As we're going, there are going to be changes and a progression as players come along. Things can change, and this was an opportunity.
On activity leading into the trade deadline
There was that flurry the other day, and the next day was dead. Then it started again. I guess everybody analyzes all the picks they've given away and decides if they have any more to give away.