David Backes, the former Blue has just retired as of Thursday, September 9, 2021. Though it may not be the perfect retirement, he couldn’t have scripted it any better to ride off in the sunset.

On May 5, as a short-time member of the Anaheim Ducks, he played his final NHL game in the stadium where it all started, St. Louis, Missouri. “I am so grateful to have lived out my dream of playing in the NHL. So many amazing moments and connections along the way. Back with the St. Louis Blues where it all began,” David Backes tweeted Thursday morning, informing many that he has signed a 1-day contract with the Blues so he could officially retire as a member of the team. That day also happened to be the 10 year anniversary of Backes being named the Blues captain. Once Backes contacted the Blues and asked to retire with them, he then tweeted: “The feeling was mutual for the Blues and I am so humbled that the journey has come full circle for me to end this amazing ride with the same organization that called my name at the draft 18 years ago.”

A second-round draft pick by the Blues in 2003, the rugged power forward played 965 regular-season games, compiling 248 goals and 313 assists. He played 727 of those contests with the Blues, with six seasons of 20 goals or more including 31-goal campaigns in 2008-09 and 2010-11. Even with David’s incredible work throughout his career it still won’t be enough to get him into the NHL’s Hall of fame, but that was never his goal.

“How I hope to be remembered is a guy that gave it all and did everything in my power and didn’t waste an opportunity,” Backes said later Thursday on a Zoom call with reporters. “I left it all on the ice and was a great teammate to the guys I was wearing the same sweater as.”

David will forever be remembered in St. Louis as a backbreaking player that gave his all for the team when the game was on the line.