The Boston Bruins have entered the second week of their Training Camp preparations. There are still many open questions left on the table for the Bruins. One of those is whether David Backes will make the Opening Night roster or not.
Earlier in the summer, the rumors of Backes’ health conditions have popped out. However, as it seems now, the American forward is healthy and ready to go for his 14th NHL season.
Nevertheless, last year, Backes found himself in the press box more often than he would have liked. As the situation stands now, Backes will begin the 2019-20 season with the Bruins.
With that in mind, where would the Bruins slot him in? For Backes, it’s quite an unfamiliar spot in Training Camp. Almost every time Backes used the Training Camp as an opportunity to just warm-up for the regular season’s opening sequence. This time around, he has to battle for the roster spot –– and his chances don’t look too good.
“In the past, I’ve had a more secure role and spot and used (preseason) games as a warmup and had a target date of (opening night) to build up to that. This year is more of staring down the face of my first preseason game and I need to be going all out and prove myself every shift. Ideally, it’s three games but that’s not in my control and when I’m out there I need to do my best,” Backes said in an interview with The Athletic.
Last Thursday, Backes played in the Bruins lineup in Philadelphia. The 35-year-old veteran finished the night with 14:48 of the ice-time, not getting any power-play time. It seems as Backes would be the best bet for Boston on the fourth line, which is, of course, alarming for a player earning $6 million per-season.
Notwithstanding, Backes is not assured of a roster spot to begin the regular season.
“It’s an opportunity. I’m hoping there are open minds and we’ll all get a clean slate, but I don’t control that; I control playing my first shift and making an impact,” Backes said, a man who is still eager and desperate to prove critics wrong.
However, time is winding down for the Bruins veteran forward.
