http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/article ... r-trinkets
Last season, St. Louis forward David Backes emerged as one of the game's top young personalities, especially during his time as a key figure for Team USA in its run to an Olympic silver medal. But the regular season was also filled with frustration. The young Blues took a step backward, missed the playoffs and have had a long, hot summer to let their failure sink in. With a new coach and a maturing team around him, Backes is excited about the possibilities for this season. He recently took a few minutes to chat with Sporting News hockey writer Craig Custance.
SN: This will be your first full season with Davis Payne as head coach. Why was he successful as interim coach down the stretch last year?
DB: He's fantastic. He related to a lot of the guys. He's been through the battles, he's a younger guy. He was 39 last year so he has to be one of the youngest coaches in the league. He brought a lot of energy and expects his players to work and enjoy their time at the rink and play for each other. He simplified things as far as everyday life at the rink and also tried to get everyone on the same page.
SN: The head coaches in the NHL seem to get younger and younger. Are we seeing a trend?
DB: I definitely think you see a trend. It's an evolution of the game. There are a lot more young players in the league. You need that energy to stay up and relate to the way the game is played now. There may be a little bit of stubbornness to the old coaches and not adapting their teaching and coaching to the new rules. Guys are 18 coming in, not 22 or 24. You need your entry-level guys to play and produce. There's a lot more coddling and nurturing of younger minds.
SN: From here, it looks like St. Louis has plenty of cap space and a team ready for a big free-agent addition. Are you disappointed by the lack of big moves from the front office this summer?
DB: I think they're being smart about it. You don't necessarily want to spend all your money and commit to long-term contracts to someone looking for the highest bidder. … We're not spending to the cap but now we've got that room to add a few other trinkets to the puzzle in the season that other teams don't have.
SN: What was your reaction to adding playoff hero Jaroslav Halak as your starting goalie?
DB: To lose (former starter Chris Mason) was a little bitter, but to get a 25-year-old goaltender, it brings a smile back to your face. To know he's going to be around this group of players and growing with it—it's not replacing older goaltenders with another older goaltender.
SN: What's Atlanta getting in Chris Mason?
DB: Atlanta is going to find a true leader in Chris, who also brings work ethic. And he expects the same from his teammates. If he's not getting it, he'll make sure they know he's not satisfied.
Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/article ... z0vhT9pshu
