Sadly, Backes will be a regular in the lineup. I'm glad they didn't buy him out, since they won't have dead cap space because of him next year, but yeah, he'll be taking a roster spot from one of the young guys.

It is a viable way to bank some cap space assuming the team doesn't need to max out its roster if they can. Im not sure what the rules are in that. Id swap Mahura and Larsson and put Curran on the taxi squad. Not as much space is banked but its more likely. Also wonder if they would do that to Backes.

Why does everyone think that's a sure thing? From the sounds of things he isn't skating on a line in camp that's expected to be in the lineup. And he sucks. Never mind what having Zegras on the roster will do the lines. I find it extremely hard to believe Eakins will shoehorn Backes into the lineup in lieu of a more talented winger for the sake of justifying his existence on the roster or to placate his feelings. If this organization is serious about winning this year, this won't be the case. Or everyone needs to get fired.

I mean, I hope you're right, but my understanding is that he was promised regular playing time by GMBM.

At the end of the day, it's really not up to Murph who plays and who doesn't. And if it is this team is headed for disaster because that's no way to run a hockey team. I Murph just told Backes what he wanted to hear to keep him happy all off-season. Because if Backes acts like a baby for not getting in the lineup we can just stash him in San Diego for the rest of the year. But if Eakins is of the same mind as Murph and keeps Backes in the lineup over say Jones or Comtois I'll be done with him. Not totally on board with Eakins to begin with either.

I don't think they would shy away from putting Backes on the taxi squad if it existed under normal circumstances. Though he's not waiver exempt I think they'd be happier if a team did take him off their hands, even though it's highly unlikely given his contract and performance. Still even with Backes on the taxi squad they save more. I think the biggest thing that would keep Backes on the roster is the actual money the team is paying him. Kesler is being paid and his career is over and they are paying Perry to play in Montreal so given the financial issues the pandemic has caused, I don't know if they could stomach paying another player not to play.