David Backes to Bruins: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Veteran free-agent center David Backes reached an agreement Friday with the Boston Bruins on a five-year contract.  

Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported the details of the deal. Craig Custance of ESPN confirmed the high-profile signing.

Backes has been a highly reliable player since making his debut in St. Louis during the 2006-07 campaign. A two-way forward with equal parts of skill and grit, the 2003 second-round pick provided the Blues with 460 points (206 goals and 254 assists) in 727 games across a decade in the NHL.

He's coming off a season that saw him tally 21 goals and 24 assists in 79 games. The 45 points represented his lowest full-season total since 2007-08. He did reach the 20-goal plateau for the fifth straight year, excluding the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, though.

The drop-off still raised questions about his value heading into his mid-30s. Players whose contracts come up after a down year are often the most difficult decisions for front offices to make.

The Minnesota native confirmed he felt comfortable in St. Louis following the team's elimination from the playoffs. "No question this is home," Backes said. "We've been here 10 years, and this is what we consider home. I don't know anything else," per Lou Korac of NHL.com.

Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted back in January, however, that the center said he also understood the business part of the game with free agency looming:

"

It's the business side of things. We had surface discussions before the season and there hasn't been a ton after that. That's OK, but I think both sides are optimistic and believe something is going to get done. I wish I had a magic eight-ball and I could tell you, but I just can't. The business side needs to make sense on all fronts. I try to keep the team stuff in the front of my mind. The contract, all that stuff, will all take care of itself.

"

Ultimately, Backes and the Blues weren't able to find enough common ground financially, so he's going to start a new chapter of his career with the Bruins. Surely there will be a brief transition period as he becomes accustomed to his new surroundings.

He'll likely take on a top-six role with Boston right out of the gate, even if it takes some time for him to find his comfort zone. The Bruins will need him to make a major impact to remain a threat in the increasingly competitive Atlantic Division.

Backes will end up as one of the offseason's most notable additions. Now the pressure is on his shoulders to show he can still make a major impact.