Losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final was a painful ending to a successful season for the Bruins. It was even more painful for David Backes who was watching from the press box for the third straight Stanley Cup Final game.
2018-19 was Backes’ worst year in Boston as he had a career-low 20 points in 70 games. His performance in the regular season led to the first playoff healthy scratch of his career. In and out of the lineup throughout the Bruins four playoff series, Backes appeared in 15 of the Bruins 24 playoff games.
Using the pain of his team’s Game 7 loss, and the sinking feeling of not being on the ice in the most important games of his career, Backes offseason, albeit shorter than normal, looked a little different than years past.
“The shortened summer I think for everybody, personally I didn't take any vacations in the summer,… Backes said Wednesday following the Bruins preseason win over the New Jersey Devils. “I was, limited my time, which is my little serenity time at our property and on my tractor to spend extra time in the gym and on the ice.…
With no vacations and less time on his tractor, his time on the ice changed when Backes decided to hire a skating coach.
Katie McDonagh—a former US figure skater—who is the founder and president of Cutting Edge Performance Power Skating was Backes’ skating coach in Minnesota.
Backes admits she was mean to him, but it was necessary and he says he feels as good as he has in a long time.
“She certainly was, I say that she was mean to me, but it was necessary because I think I really needed it being intentional with my skating, which I took for granted and kinda just thought that it was all gonna happen or that I've done this for so long, it's all got to happen,… said Backes. “I kind of said that at the end of last year, I think the way it ended, you know, it kind of lit a fire under me for the summer and I think I've put the work in and I feel better on the ice than I have in a long, long time.…
Backes work in the summer has shown throughout preseason where he’s been one of the Bruins better forwards, and that was certainly the case in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory. Backes scored the Bruins second goal of the game, and gelled nicely with linemates Anders Bjork and Par Lindholm.
“I thought he was good, he was bangin’, he was physical. Got to the net, created some loose puck situations with a good forecheck, so he had his legs,… head coach Bruce Cassidy said of Backes.… They seem to complement one another, that line. Sometimes it just happens. Lindy’s [Lindholm] a solid two-way player, so the other guys can go on the forecheck. Bjorky [Bjork] brings some speed, likes to carry the puck.…
Cassidy admitted that Saturday’s preseason finale will be as close to an opening night dress rehersal as they can get. So if Backes goes on Saturday, does that mean he’s earned a spot on what’s become a crowded bottom-six for the Bruins?
“We’ll have to discuss that,… Cassidy added. “Will he play Saturday? Pasta [David Pastrnak] is going back in, [Brett] Ritchie will go back in, [Chris] Wagner. But Wags can play left, so we’ll sort through that tomorrow. But he’s done a nice job here in camp so far.…
So what exactly caused Backes to hire a skating coach? Well, it was a group of 12-year old girls, and a “divine intervention.…
“So the whole story is I was skating with my old high school, just kind of playing shinny on one sheet. I had a text from a friend of mine that said her sister-in-law's sister is on the other rink with a bunch of little girls that would love for me to go say hi to. So I went over there and said hi to them and they were doing a drill. 12 year old girls I’m jumping in the drill with them and I couldn't do the drill,… Backes said
“It was maybe the most humbled that I've ever been in my life. And I went home and I said, this is a divine intervention. And I called that skating coach and said, I need you to help me. Then she helped me. It was painful at times. I'm not gonna lie, but I think it's, it's translated to what I needed.…
Is a group of 12-year old skaters what Backes needs to get back to on track and put forth his best season in Boston?
Only time will tell.