Backes signs with Bruins

Well, my wish didn't come true ...

David Backes, the former Mavericks star and 10-year veteran of the St. Louis Blues, agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal with the Boston Bruins on Friday, about a half hour into NHL free agency.

(Read the Associated Press story here.)

Those terms were too long and too rich for the Blues' -- and the Minnesota Wild's -- blood, so Backes is moving on. 

I've written a lot about Backes over the years, noting, in particular, his character. Here's another example of that: His tweet today about leaving St. Louis, something, it's clear, he didn't really want to do:

A great mixture of emotions and thankful for an amazing decade of my life! Farewell @StLouisBlues  #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/AyYSSOqj06

— David Backes (@dbackes42) July 1, 2016

Yep, class act. All the way.