BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, December 31, that forward David Backes has been diagnosed with a concussion and will be sidelined indefinitely as the team follows the NHL's concussion protocols. The injury occurred in the first period of the team's 4-2 win at Buffalo on Thursday, December 29.

Backes, 32, has skated in 33 games with the Bruins in 2016-17, recording nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points with 31 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-3, 221-pound forward also leads the team with 98 hits. In his 11-year NHL career, Backes has played in 760 games, compiling 215 goals and 264 assists for 479 points with 1,000 penalty minutes.