When the news broke that David Backes was headed to the Boston Bruins, the first report got it wrong. The tweet said that Backes would be signing with Boston on a seemingly mind-blowing one-year contract. It seemed that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney had pulled off a minor miracle.
The truth was, as it tends to be, more controversial.
Boston had actually signed Backes to a five-year, $30 million contract, term and money that put him out of the question for his former team, the St. Louis Blues. Because although Blues general manager Doug Armstrong acknowledged on NHL Network that Backes would be "sorely missed" in terms of his physical play and leadership, he also said that he was nervous about the later seasons for a 32-year-old player on a long-term contract.
Bruins add to strength with David Backes signing
Veteran joins Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci at center with five-year, $30 million contract
© Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
© Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
© Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images