Blues match offer for Backes: The St. Louis Blues retained forward David Backes on Tuesday by quickly matching the three-year, $7.5 million offer sheet the young forward signed with the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks tried to pluck the 24-year-old winger away from the Blues just hours after he became a restricted free agent. The Blues had seven days to match the offer or let him go for a compensatory second-round pick, but wasted little time in deciding to keep Backes. "(Chairman and Principle Owner) Dave Checketts was very supportive of this decision to sign David," Blues president John Davidson said in a statement. "David is a major part of our youth movement in St. Louis and we expect him to play a huge role as we move forward." (Updated 07/01/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/26/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Backes spent parts of the past two seasons with the Blues, who selected him in the second round of the 2003 draft. He set career highs with 13 goals and 31 points in 72 games last season, while also leading the team with 240 hits. Backes is known more for his physical play than his ability to put up points and remains just a low-end Fantasy forward heading into 2008-09. (Updated 07/01/2008).
No information available at this time.
Blues match offer for Backes: The St. Louis Blues retained forward David Backes on Tuesday by quickly matching the three-year, $7.5 million offer sheet the young forward signed with the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks tried to pluck the 24-year-old winger away from the Blues just hours after he became a restricted free agent. The Blues had seven days to match the offer or let him go for a compensatory second-round pick, but wasted little time in deciding to keep Backes. "(Chairman and Principle Owner) Dave Checketts was very supportive of this decision to sign David," Blues president John Davidson said in a statement. "David is a major part of our youth movement in St. Louis and we expect him to play a huge role as we move forward." (Updated 07/01/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/26/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Backes spent parts of the past two seasons with the Blues, who selected him in the second round of the 2003 draft. He set career highs with 13 goals and 31 points in 72 games last season, while also leading the team with 240 hits. Backes is known more for his physical play than his ability to put up points and remains just a low-end Fantasy forward heading into 2008-09. (Updated 07/01/2008).
