Report: Bruins planning to buy out Backes?

Out of all the players on the Boston Bruins’ roster, it’s harder to imagine anyone taking the team’s Stanley Cup loss as much as David Backes. After all, Backes was the long-serving captain of the St. Louis Blues before signing a long term deal with the Bruins.

Backes could only look on as a healthy scratch as the Blues lifted the Cup at TD Garden and now there’s real uncertainty regarding the 35 year old’s future. Backes is signed for two more years at $6 million per season and, as a result, there are real questions out there whether or not the Bruins will buy the veteran out of his contract.

Well… hold the phone says NHL insider John Shannon. 

Shannon is reporting that the Bruins are NOT currently looking to buy out Backes, check it out:

It makes sense… a buyout of Backes’ deal would save just $333,333 in 2019-20 and $2.3 million in 2020-21, but the team would be on the hook for nearly $3 million over the following three seasons. Not ideal.

A more likely scenario for the Bruins is that they look to package Backes up with a prospect or pick in a trade this offseason. Stay tuned, Bruins fans.