Signing off: Blues captain Backes moves on to Boston; Brouwer heads for Calgary

The St. Louis Blues lost their captain and a fan favorite Friday when center David Backes agreed to a five-year, $30-million free-agent contract with the Boston Bruins.

Backes’ agent, Wade Arnott confirmed the deal less than a half-hour into the start of the free-agent period. Backes will count $6 million against the Bruins’ salary through the 2020-21 season.

The 32-year-old Backes, a native of Minneapolis, had 21 goals and 24 assists last season for the Blues. Backes has 206 goals and 254 assists in 727 regular-season games. He has 27 points in 49 playoff games.

The Blues also said good-bye Friday to winger Troy Brouwer, who signed a four-year, $18-million free-agent contract with Calgary, joining Elliott with the Flames.

Brouwer, 30, had 18 goals and 21 assists in 82 games with the Blues last season. He had eight goals in the playoffs as the Blues reached the Western Conference finals.

Brouwer also has played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals.

This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Signing off: Blues captain Backes moves on to Boston; Brouwer heads for Calgary."