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David Backes Plus Pieces Traded to Anaheim for Ondrej Kase

The Anaheim Ducks traded Ondrej Kase to the Boston Bruins for David Backes, a first-round pick and Axel Andersson.

It was a pairing we figured made sense some time ago. The Boston Bruins were looking to move David Backes and his salary and the Anaheim Ducks were willing take on salary in exchange for assets that could help down the road. On Friday, the two teams partnered up in a deal.

In the process, the Bruins added a piece that could help, acquiring Ondrej Kase from the Anaheim Ducks. The Bruins have sent back David Backes, Axel Andersson and a 2020 first-round pick. And, the Bruins will retain 25% of Backes’ contract. Backes will count for $1.5 million against the Ducks’ cap for this season and next.

Kase is a substantial acquisition for the Bruins and helps ease some of the pressure to add a top-six forward, something they’ve been looking to do most of the season. The 24-year old has proven in the past that he can drive play at even-strength, but has had trouble staying healthy.

In 198 career games, Kase has 43 goals and 96 points and the analytics community is a big fan of his work.

This likely takes the Bruins out of the running for a player like Chris Kreider, Brandon Saad or Kyle Palmieri as any of those players would have required a first-round pick going back the other way. That said, they could still do smaller deals because of the new money they just freed up.

Backes, 35, has not played since clearing waivers in January and the Bruins and Backes agreed to have him sit out in the event of a future trade. He did not report to the American Hockey League affiliate Providence Bruins and it was simply of matter of if the Bruins could move his salary. Getting out from under that contract is huge for the Bruins, and that they added Kase makes giving up a first-rounder a bit easier to swallow.

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