Patrick Roy Calls David Backes Gutless

COMMENTARY | The St. Louis Blues made a poor showing when they hosted the Colorado Avalanche on April 5, 2014. The Blues have clinched their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs and are now hunting the President’s Trophy. However, with today’s lack of effort on the part of the Blues, that prize is falling farther and farther out of reach.

The Avalanche’s head coach, Patrick Roy delivered a harsh and somewhat whining opinion of Blues captain, David Backes. Roy outright called Backes “gutless” for a hit that Backes delivered on Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon. Roy complained that the hit on MacKinnon, an 18-year-old, was uncalled for. Correct me if I am wrong, but the kid is playing with the big boys now and should be expected to take hard hits when he steps onto the ice. If Roy is so concerned that the 18-year-old cannot handle the rigors of the NHL, then maybe Roy should send the kid back to his mommy until he is mature enough. It could be that Roy was concerned because the kid missed his afternoon nap and snack time.

I am actually embarrassed for Nathan MacKinnon. Roy made him out to be the biggest sissy of the NHL. He has been portrayed as the wimpy teenager who cannot handle playing with the big boys. Roy essentially put a target on MacKinnon’s back for other teams, especially during the playoffs. He has been painted as a player unable to take a hit and therefore is an easy mark.

I understand the frustration and the fear that Roy may have felt with the playoffs right around the corner and it would not be a complete game without Roy making off-the-wall comments or trying to incite the other team through outrageous accusations. My thoughts would be that Roy needs to clean house and remove the plank from his eye before pointing out the speck of dust in the eye of others. Now my ordination training is starting to come out here. In this case it does fit. Roy is renowned for his dramatic, over-the-top antics as well as his out-spoken, whiny demeanor.

Photo by Mark Buckner/NHLI via Getty Images

To call one of the classiest NHL captains gutless for hitting a player on the ice is ridiculous. Next, Roy will be calling for a player’s age, weight and height to be prominently displayed on their sweater as well as the inception of rules outlining that 18-year-olds cannot be checked by 30-year-olds or some such nonsense. Backes showed his class and integrity by refusing to be drawn into the cattiness of Roy’s remarks. Backes understands the beast of the game and is able to rise above the nastiness of petty players and coaches.

Blues head coach, Ken Hitchcock, also showed his integrity by ignoring the comments Roy made regarding the game and the way players handled themselves during and after the game. Hitchcock’s first priority is to get his team back on track and focus on the daunting task of hunting the Stanley Cup.

The Blues need to rise from this disappointing loss and finish the season strong. With only four games left to play, each game is critical to the mental state of the team and the momentum that they will need to push through the first round of the playoffs.

As for Patrick Roy, he needs to clean his own house before pointing fingers at others. Calling out a player for delivering a hit during a frustrating game is classless and just plain crass. I would have expected more from a NHL head coach, but then again, we are talking Roy.