80% chance Backes is gone, 0% chance he plays LW if he isn’t.

I don’t hate this, but Chara is coming back unless they win the cup. Even then he might

Chara will return. No guarantee Studnicka can take 3C duties. Backes doesn't play LW. You trade Nordstrom for a 4th/5th but Fitzgerald for a 6th?

im not convinced chara comes back unless they move krug or backes and open up some cash . I wanna see vaak in there and playing every night

Who's gonna take him and for what?

He may retire. He is just as frustrated as we are. And he is not going to want to be buried in the AHL which is likely the case if he stays in Boston with his NMC gone.

He has an NTC still but i think he will waive for roughly 50% - 66% of the league if he still wants to play. I just don’t see anyone really wanting him. Arizona surely would. High cap low salary helps get them to the floor while keeping payroll down. Don’t see him waiving for them or that type of team. Don’t see a contender wanting him. Going to have to retain in any trade to a team that is not looking for the cap floor. Not going to get anything of value in return.

Would be great to win the Cup this year. He and Chara would both surely retire.

Worst case scenario is they are stuck with him 1 more year and then buy him out.

Arizona seems like the place considering the conditions. Replace panic who im sure leaves as an ufa and adds some leadership. he can still be a bottom 6 forward if the money works.

But i doubt he waives for them.

Would you rather play in Arizona or Rhode Island???? Sure it's near the mall but so what

At 35 with concussion issues and a fading game....i’d rather retire than play for a paycheck and just go through the motions with no hope of anything better with a team that is nothing more than an afterthought.

Guess it depends on his desire and bank account. ?‍♂️

backes seems like a guy you have to drag off the ice