from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,
The conversation around David Backes and his new, aggressive approach to his playing role got somewhat carried away in recent days.
By Thursday morning, less than 48 hours after his reinvigorated pugnacity was noted here following his fight Tuesday with Carolina’s Micheal Ferland, rumors all but had UFC representatives circling Causeway Street to secure Battleship Backes42 to a long-term deal inside the Octagon. Fire the depth charges!!!
So, a little perspective, along with what I think is appropriate concern for a guy who has said in the past that he needs most of his 10 digits to count the concussions he’s incurred over the length of his playing career.
Neither Backes nor Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday night that the veteran winger had recast himself as a brawler or goon. The fight with Ferland was his third in four games — appropriately characterized as a record or anomaly — for the former Blues captain who will turn 35 in May.
The uptick in his, shall we say, activity is self-evident. He has struggled mightily to put points on the board this season (55 games/15 points). He’s not happy about it. He’s proud. Above all, he wants to keep a spot in the lineup, which was among the key points he made following his tussle with Ferland.
continued plus more topics including Johnny Bucyk on Ted Lindsay...
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