The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Boston Bruins forward David Backes has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head. This is his third career suspension.
Boston’s David Backes has been suspended for three games for an illegal check to the head on New Jersey’s Blake Coleman. https://t.co/hpBwU4gKmK
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 28, 2018
David Backes Suspended
Backes has been suspended for three games and will forfeit $219,512.19 of his salary for an incident with New Jersey Devils centre Blake Coleman. Backes delivered a hit to the head of Blake Coleman with two minutes left in Wednesdays 5-2 loss to the Devils. He was given a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head on the play.
So far this season, he has scored three goals and seven assists for 10 points. He also added eight minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 52 percent Corsi-For and a relative Corsi of -0.8.
Backes spent the first nine years of his career with the St. Louis Blues before joining the Bruins in 2016. He has put up 240 goals and 301 assists for 541 career points in 891 career NHL games. He was originally drafted in the second round, 62nd overall of the 2003 NHL draft by the St.Louis Blues.
What This Means for the Future
Backes who has moved over to the wing since being signed by the Bruins in 2016. During his three years with the Bruins, his numbers have slowly been declining. The Bruins lose a versatile player who can play a number of situations. Even though his scoring is down this year he is a pivotal part of the bottom six for the Bruins. He is over 56 percent on draws so far this season. Over the course of the next three games, Chris Wagner will likely move up to the third line to replace Backes.
Backes will miss the Winter Classic. He is eligible to return on January 5th when the Bruins host the Buffalo Sabres.
Main Photo:
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 12: David Backes #42 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the Ottawa Senators in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 12, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova / Freestyle Photography / Getty Images)
