David Backes

**David Backes** (born David Anthony Backes on May 1, 1984 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL.

He was drafted 62nd overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues.

## Playing Career

### Junior

David played three seasons of prep hockey with Spring Lake Park High School in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, graduating in 2002.

As a senior, he was named All-Conference, All-Metro, All-State and was a finalist for the 2002 Minnesota Mr. Hockey award. He was joined on the Star Tribune's All-Metro First Team with future college teammate Travis Morin of the Dallas Stars.

David's high school team included future Minnesota Wild forward Jarod Palmer. His number 5 has been retired by the school and hangs at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota

After spending parts of two years in junior hockey with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, Backes was selected in the second round (62nd overall) by the St. Louis Blues in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Prior to joining the Blues, David played three seasons of college hockey at Minnesota State University, Mankato where he was named to the 2005–06 Men's RBK Division I West All-America Second Team and the 2005–06 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team.

Immediately after his third and final college season, David was signed by the Blues and assigned to the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL for the final 12 games of the 2005–06 season.

### Professional

**St. Louis Blues**

Following his first NHL training camp in September 2006, David was reassigned to the Rivermen, remaining in the AHL for the start of the 2006–07 season. Several months into the campaign, he was called up by the Blues and played his first NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 19, 2006.

Forty-four seconds into the game, David registered his first NHL point, a second-assist on a Doug Weight goal, giving the Blues a 1–0 lead. St. Louis went on to win the game 4–1, while recording 10 minutes of ice time.

The following game, two days later, he scored his first NHL goal 10 minutes and 47 seconds into the first period versus the Los Angeles Kings. The goal came on a backhand shot past Kings goaltender Dan Cloutier, helping the Blues to a 5–2 win.

A month into his initial stint with the Blues, he was reassigned to the Rivermen on January 21, 2007, for three days, after which he was recalled. Spending the remainder of the season with St. Louis, he completed his rookie season with 23 points (10 goals and 13 assists) in 49 games, while also recording 13 points (10 goals and three assists) in 31 games with Peoria.

Among NHL rookies who had played at least half the season, David ranked 13th in points-per-game at 0.47. In 2007–08, he completed his first full season in the NHL, improving to 31 points (13 goals and 18 assists).

Becoming a restricted free agent in the off-season, he signed a three-year, US$7.5 million offer sheet with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2008. The Blues quickly matched the offer, keeping him in St. Louis through the 2010–11 season.

With a new contract, David tallied 54 points, including a career-high 31 goals, in 2008–09, finishing second behind former Bruins winger Brad Boyes among Blues scorers.

David added 165 penalty minutes while playing in all 82 games for the first time in his career. During the season, he scored a career-high four goals on April 2, 2009, in a 5–4 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

David's efforts helped the Blues reach the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Matching up against the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, the Blues were swept in four games. He recorded a goal and two assists in that span.

In 2009–10, David's offensive production decreased to 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points in 79 games. Following the retirement of Keith Tkachuk in the off-season, he took on the role of the alternate captain for 2010–11, the last season of his contract.

A month into the campaign, on November 12, 2010, he signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract extension, keeping him with St. Louis through the 2015–16 season. Leading the Blues in scoring midway through the season, he was named to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2011.

As the NHL adopted a draft to determine the teams for the first year, David was selected by Team Staal 33rd overall among 36 players. He recorded three assists in a losing effort, as Team Lidstrom won 11–10.

David completed the season matching his personal best total of 31 goals, while adding 31 assists for a career-high and team-leading 62 points over 82 games. With a +32 rating, he came within one point of leading the league in plus-minus, behind Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.

Late in the 2010–11 season, Blues captain Eric Brewer had been traded away to the Tampa Bay Lightning, leaving the leadership position vacant for the remainder of the campaign.

During the off-season, on September 9, 2011, David was chosen to succeed Brewer, becoming the 20th captain in team history. He scored 24 goals to go with 30 assists in 82 games played during the 2011–12 NHL season.

**Boston Bruins**

After ten seasons with the Blues organization and leading the club as captain for the last five seasons, David left as a free agent after the 2015–16 season. He agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2016.

On November 22, 2016, the Bruins as a team reached the milestone of 20,000 goals all-time in NHL play, dating back to their 1924–25 debut season when left winger Smokey Harris scored the Bruins' first-ever goal on December 1, 1924; his power play goal for the Bruins got them to the 20,000th-team goal total plateau in a 4–2 home rink loss to his previous team, the St. Louis Blues.

At the beginning of the 2017–18 season, David had been diagnosed with a diverticulitis infection, and missed the first five games of the regular season, but was able to play again by October 19, the night of a home game against the Vancouver Canucks.

However, a re-evaluation shortly thereafter (with his most recent game on October 30, on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets) revealed that an operation to remove part of his colon would be necessary; it was carried out on November 2, with a projected eight-week recovery time.

He was suspended for three games on March 7, 2018, due to interference against Detroit Red Wings player Frans Nielsen during a game on March 6, 2018.

Following an accidental hockey-skate cut above one knee suffered in a March 17, 2018 Bruins road game by the Tampa Bay Lightning's Yanni Gourde, he required 17 stitches to close the wound, and needed to stay off the ice for it to heal; he returned against the Lightning in a home game for the Bruins on March 29.

Ahead of his return on March 29, David was selected as the Bruins' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, which is awarded to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."

On December 27, 2018, he delivered an illegal hit to the head of New Jersey Devils' forward Blake Coleman. He was assessed a minor penalty on the play. The following day, He was suspended for three games. As a repeat offender, he forfeited $219,512.19.

**Anaheim Ducks**

On February 21, 2020, the Bruins traded David, prospect Axel Andersson and a 2020 first-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Ondrej Kase.

## International Play

Following his rookie NHL season, David was named to the United States' national team for the 2007 IIHF World Championship. He played in seven games, contributing a goal, two assists and six penalty minutes, as the United States finished in fifth place.

He again suited up for Team USA at the 2008 IIHF World Championship, contributing an assist and 35 penalty minutes over six games as the United States finished sixth.

Competing for a third consecutive year at the World Championships in 2009, he registering a goal and four assists in nine games. The United States placed fourth, losing to Sweden 4–2 in the bronze medal game.

On January 1, 2010, David was named to the United States' roster for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He recorded a goal and two assists over six games, helping the United States to the gold medal game. They were defeated 3–2 by Canada in overtime, earning silver.

On January 1, 2014, David was named to the United States's roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics along with St. Louis teammates Kevin Shattenkirk and T.J. Oshie.

Although the U.S. team did not win a medal, the forward played in six games, scored three goals, had one assist, and four points (while accumulating six penalty minutes) in Sochi.

## Accolades

 *ESPN* Academic All-America First Team

## Personal Life

David and his wife Kelly have two children. He is a Christian. He got his private pilot's license in 2012 and has flown many planes since.

He graduated with an applied organizational studies degree with a nonprofit leadership emphasis from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2014, and had formerly studied to become an electrical engineer.

David is a passionate advocate for animal welfare, and has had pets since he was a child and when he was struggling to get a break in the NHL. Together with his wife, Kelly, he is highly active in animal rescue efforts and pet adoption drives.

In November 2013, they founded Athletes for Animals, an organization to raise funds and awareness for rescuing and protecting the welfare of homeless pets.

On April 4, 2017, six cattle that escaped slaughter in north St. Louis were put under the care of The Gentle Barn, an animal sanctuary with facilities in California and Tennessee with David and Kelly helping provide support to the community based GoFundMe campaigns created for their freedom.