Backes signs contract extension

Former Minnesota State great David Backes signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract extension with the St. Louis Blues. The MSU athletics blog has several links regarding the signing, which the Blues got done rather than letting the 26-year-old Backes became an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Said Blues general manager Doug Armstrong: "He's a Blue for the next five years and I'm hoping much past that to end his career here."

Backes, an alternate captain for the Blues this season, has been called St. Louis' future captain. This extension certainly backs up that idea. Last week in Omaha, WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod was raving about the Blues, since three of their best players are alumni of the conference. North Dakota's T.J. Oshie (now injured) leads the team in scoring, Backes is considered the "heart and soul" of the team, McLeod said, and Minnesota's Erik Johnson plays the most minutes and is the Blues' top defenseman.

Backes, an All-American for the Mavericks, has two goals and four assists this season as the Blues have started 9-2-3. Now in his fifth NHL season, Backes has 73 goals, 89 assists and 439 PIMs in 296 games.