Hockey Night at TBL: Meet an American Hockey Player

To cap off Hockey Night at TBL, I introduce you, dear readers, to a new feature which will run almost daily for the next month: Meet an American Hockey Player.  In the month leading up to the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 22, I will introduce you to each member of the 23-man Team USA hockey team.  Because if TBL doesn't give these unheralded youngsters their day in the sun, who will?  Plus, you never know—maybe these kids will do something unexpected.   And you wouldn't want to miss that.  Now, our inaugural Team USA member:  Captain America David Backes. 

Name:  David Backes (#42)

Essentials: Right Wing, St. Louis Blues; 25 years old;  6'3" 216 lbs;    Hometown: Blaine, Minnesota; thoughtful husband

Background: To be honest, Backes doesn't have the most inspiring career.  He's basically your run-of-the-mill American hockey player.  He starred in Minnesota high school hockey, had a brief stop in the USHL (where he was drafted 62nd overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2003), played in college (for the Minnesota State Mavericks), and finally got called up to the big show after a momentary stay in the AHL.  He racked up moderate scoring numbers and impressive penalty totals, and was basically like every American player not on the national team.  Last season—his third in the NHL—Backes burst through with 31 goals, and through the first half of this season, he's third on the lowly Blues with 25 points.  Backes, like so many Americans before him, looks headed to a long career as a good, but not great, power forward.  He provides grit and some scoring; but he's never going to be the guy you can build an offense around.  Basically Ryan Malone without the 'Burgh in his blood.

Why he should be your favorite Team USA member: Backes isn't exactly the most talented member of the U.S. team, but he embodies the style of play that America needs to adopt if it's going to be successful in the Olympics.  He loves playing for America and he's earned a reputation as a hard worker.  And he should unequivocally be your favorite Team USA player.  Because he is a supreme bad ass.  Since the American roster was announced on New Year's Day, Backes has taken it upon himself to beat Team Canada into submission.  He has, you could say, pummeled his way into my heart.  In the two weeks that he has been an official member of the U.S. team, Backes has picked fights with three Canadian Olympians:  He pounded Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry, and unfortunately met his match in Rick Nash.  Apparently Toews threw up (twice) in the penalty box following their fight.  And it's not like Backes makes a living out of this—he had only fought once all year before his intracontinental rampage.  If it weren't for his Canadian-beating ways, I'd be lukewarm on Backes's membership on the team—I'm not sure he's as helpful as, say, Bill Guerin would be.  But so long as he keeps this up, Backes can play on the first line for all I care.  With all due respect to Jamie Langenbrunner, here is the real Team USA captain.  Let's only hope he can get one of the canucks to drop gloves with him on the international stage.

Why he shouldn't:  He took Mike Modano's spot.  And Bill Guerin would probably fight two Canadians at once to get a spot on the team.  Plus he's not exactly "skilled"—which may matter a lot in the international game.

What to watch for in the Olympics:  Well, obviously whether he can get a Canadian to fight him.  But also how he gets along with teammate Ryan Kesler.  Kesler has not always had the kindest words for Backes and his family.  I really hope head coach Ron Wilson pairs these two together at some point. 

And something for the ladies:  Backes isn't all fists; he appears to have quite the sensitive side.  He even delivers puppies.

So that's David Backes, America's faithful defender.  Next on tap, "real" Team USA captain Jamie Langenbrunner.