Latest news with #Lindholm
New York Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Bruins might stand pat at center, even if it's a position of need
Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci have been gone for two years. Charlie Coyle plays for the Colorado Avalanche. Matt Poitras (21 years old) and Fraser Minten (20) are far from assured spots on the 2025-26 Boston Bruins roster. The Bruins need help at center in a big way. But they know firsthand how pricey it is to hire in the middle. On July 1, 2024, they spent $54.25 million to guarantee seven years of service from Elias Lindholm. They did so with the belief that Lindholm would be a No. 1 center at the start of his contract. Advertisement In 2021-22, Lindholm set a career high of 3.01 points per 60 minutes of all-situations play, per Natural Stat Trick. As a first-year Bruin, Lindholm averaged 1.9 per 60. Leon Draisaitl, in comparison, led all regular centers in 2024-25 with 4.16. The trade market is just as expensive. Consider that the Vegas Golden Knights gave up Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-rounder for Jack Eichel. They did so without any certainty that Eichel would be 100 percent following neck surgery. You can see, then, why upgrading the position would be a high-priced project. If Sam Bennett, for example, reaches unrestricted free agency, the Bruins would be competing with multiple bidders for the hard-nosed 28-year-old center. If the New York Rangers put Mika Zibanejad up for sale, the Bruins would have to determine how much in futures they'd be willing to spend for him and whether Zibanejad would waive his no-movement protection, not to mention if the 32-year-old who's gone from 91 to 72 to 62 points the past three seasons is even worth pursuing. The more conservative alternative would be to invest in wings, either in free agency or on the trade market. As much as the Bruins would welcome reinforcements up the middle, they have internal workarounds for the position. Lindholm, to start, can run with David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie on the No. 1 unit, even if he is no longer a first-line, play-driving pivot. Pastrnak can fill the role of playmaker (63 assists) as well as most centers. He is such a threat to score (43 goals) and clever enough with the puck that he can draw defenders his way and dish to open teammates. Geekie (33 goals) was the beneficiary in 2024-25. This could happen again in 2025-26. Lindholm, in other words, does not have to be a typical playmaker if he rides with Pastrnak and Geekie. If he defends, wins faceoffs and goes to the net to open up east-west seams for his wings, Lindholm could be a first-line fixture. 'It gives those guys an opportunity to tilt a little more that way, knowing they still have security defensively,' interim coach Joe Sacco said of how Lindholm could optimize his wings for offense. 'Somebody who's going to play underneath pucks, somebody who's going to be reliable defensively for them. He got more confidence down the stretch there.' Advertisement Offensively, Casey Mittelstadt would be the leading candidate to center the No. 2 line. He is the Bruins' top pure playmaker. He excels at extending puck control until the last moment to give his linemates maximum time to get open. But Mittelstadt's role as a setup presence comes with a cost. The 26-year-old is not hard on pucks. He doesn't win enough battles. His passing touch is muted when he cannot possess the puck. Unless Mittelstadt broadens his shoulders, he may not fit a second-line profile. 'When he gets caught standing still in the offensive zone, making plays not on the move, sometimes things shut down for him,' Sacco said. 'I find him very effective when he's skating, when he's moving his feet and being hard on the puck. We talk about hard skill all the time in this organization. We have a lot of that. That's something he continues to grow into his game.' This leaves Pavel Zacha as a second-line alternative. It's not an ideal solution. Zacha's value is as an all-around center, ideally slotted on the third line. He is not as skilled with the puck as Mittelstadt. But Zacha's hockey sense, skating and strength on the puck make him a better transporter. Like Mittelstadt, Zacha is a pass-first center. He would have to incorporate more of a shooter's selfishness to optimize a second line. So if Zacha locks down the second line and Mittelstadt works the third line, Mark Kastelic would be the most likely candidate to be the No. 4 center. Kastelic projects to be fully recovered from his concussion. The Bruins would not expect much offense from him. The 26-year-old is on the roster to skate, check and provide energy. The Bruins also have Johnny Beecher under team control as a fourth-line option. He will be a restricted free agent this offseason. They need more from Beecher if they qualify the 24-year-old and give him a raise. Advertisement If Poitras and Minten perform well in the AHL playoffs and get stronger in the summer, they could put themselves in position to nudge out an incumbent in camp. By standing pat at center, the Bruins could keep their powder dry for help on the wing. Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers could have their pens ready to sign contracts on July 1. Matthew Knies and Will Cuylle, pending restricted free agents, would be offer-sheet targets if their clubs approach the salary cap. As critical as centers are, the Bruins don't have many paths toward improving the position.
New York Times
20-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bruins 2024-25 bold predictions, revisited: A lot more wrong than right
I have often remarked about my happiness with not betting on hockey. My wallet would be empty. If you want proof of that, consider the 10 bold Boston Bruins predictions issued at the start of 2024-25. They have aged like Greek yogurt: 1. Jeremy Swayman struggles early. In one way, that prediction came true. Swayman did not play well after missing all of training camp. He had to adjust to life as the No. 1 following the trade of Linus Ullmark. Advertisement The qualifier of early, however, meant his issues would not last the entire season. They did. You've got to do a whole lot of scrolling on Moneypuck to find Swayman's goals saved above expected: minus-9.1, No. 92 overall. 2. Elias Lindholm returns to his former level. Yikes. Major whiff. After signing a seven-year, $54.25 million contract to be the Bruins' No. 1 center, Lindholm hurt his back on Day 1 of training camp. He finished with 47 points in 82 games, the fewest since he scored the same total in 2020-21. That year, however, he played in only 56 games. Lindholm is a third-line center. Fortunately for the Bruins, he can play with Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak on the No. 1 line and not have to drive the offense. 3. Hampus Lindholm returns to his former level. Partial credit? Lindholm was the Bruins' best defenseman to start the season. But that lasted only 17 games because of his fractured patella. He should have returned at some point, but he worsened his condition by accelerating his comeback. The 31-year-old will be ready for camp. 4. Charlie Coyle scores 30 goals. Another yikes. The right-shot center was at 15 by the time he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Coyle's shortfall — he scored a career-high 25 in 2023-24 — was one of the reasons the Bruins struggled to generate consistent chances. 5. Matt Poitras becomes a legitimate NHL center. Uncle! The 2022 second-rounder made the team out of camp for the second straight season. In retrospect, there's a reason Poitras has been a good preseason player: He was playing against minor-leaguers. By the time the real games started, Poitras was not ready for everyday battle. That was not his fault. The Bruins rushed his development because they needed help at center. Not only that, they tried him at right wing. The next time Poitras pulls on a Bruins jersey, the organization better believe he's up for good. Otherwise, they're messing with his confidence. Advertisement 6. Justin Brazeau becomes the No. 2 right wing. Goodness gracious, Shinzawa! Brazeau never found his rhythm as an offensive presence on the third line. He was a poor fit on the fourth line. He had 10 goals and was averaging 12:58 of ice time per game when the Bruins traded him to the Minnesota Wild. Brazeau scored one goal in 19 regular-season games for the Wild. He's likely to hit unrestricted free agency. 7. Brad Marchand does not re-sign during the season. Finally a winner! The thought here, though, was that the sides would agree to an extension after the year. Instead, after negotiations broke down, the Bruins traded their captain to the Florida Panthers. Unless Marchand is dissatisfied with his offers on the open market, it's unlikely he considers a Boston return. 8. Mason Lohrei signs a long-term extension. The guess at the time: six years, $36 million. A season's worth of data showed Lohrei is a long way from earning such a raise. He is a question mark on defense. A short-term extension will give the Bruins a better idea of what Lohrei will become as a two-way defender. 9. Fabian Lysell spends the entire year in Providence. Not quite. The right wing wasn't exactly an AHL standout this season. But he got the call for the Bruins' final 11 games. The 2021 first-rounder showed some sparks with his speed and puck touch. But the 22-year-old has a long way to go to become an everyday NHLer. The Bruins are hoping he can be their full-time No. 2 right wing in 2025-26. That is no guarantee. 10. Mike Reilly's buyout ties the Bruins' hands at the deadline. The Bruins had to carry $1,333,333 toward their number. I thought it would limit their acquisitions. It turned out to be no problem. The cap is not a concern when you're a straight-out seller. (Photo of Jeremy Swayman: Bob DeChiara / Imagn Images)
New York Times
19-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bruins 2025-26 roster tiers: Who stays and who goes this offseason?
The Boston Bruins initiated turnover before the trade deadline by sending out Justin Brazeau, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, Max Jones and Brad Marchand. That process will continue in the months to come. It's possible that before the 2025 NHL Draft, general manager Don Sweeney will package some of his future capital for NHL help. On July 1, he will sign unrestricted free agents while letting others walk. The GM will use the rest of the offseason — he hopes it will not bleed into training camp like with Jeremy Swayman last year — to lock in his restricted free agents. Advertisement So who stays and who goes? Following is a projection of all the players who appeared in 10 or more games for the Bruins in 2024-25: He was the NHL's breakout player of the season, per Nikita Zadorov, going from a healthy scratch to a 33-goal scorer. He has arbitration rights but does not prefer to exercise them. Negotiations could get tricky if arbitration is not used. He could triple his expiring $2 million average annual value based on the rising cap. Entering the second season of his seven-year, $54.25 million contract, the only way he could be moved is if the Bruins retain part of his salary. Lindholm started 2024-25 in the hole when he hurt his back on Day 1 of training camp, which kept him off the ice and out of the weight room. He found some much-needed chemistry with Geekie and David Pastrnak at the end of the regular season. He doesn't necessarily have to be a first-line play-driver. Lindholm had some good luck within his bad luck, as he put it, when he had a clean break in his patella, which allowed him to push his return to play. It was within that accelerated comeback that he went too hard and had to shut things down for good. He plans to start skating in mid-May. The loss of the No. 2 defenseman was too much for the defense to overcome. He can be a three-zone presence when healthy. The team's No. 1 defenseman experienced a frightening staph infection during the 4 Nations Face-Off that led to hospitalization and surgery on his right shoulder. He might have been able to play in Round 1 had the Bruins qualified. Doctors have told him he will have no long-term effects from the injury, and he's motivated to return better than ever. He was the league's best player down the stretch, in McAvoy's opinion, continuing to grow as a shooting and passing dangerman and helping Geekie hit his career high in goals. He also took over leadership duties after Marchand was moved and did so with all-around approval from teammates and coaches. It's unclear whether he wants the captaincy. Advertisement The fourth-highest-paid active goalie has faith he can be one of the league's top netminders again. He acknowledged not playing his best, although he did not answer whether missing training camp because of contract negotiations held him back. The team's most disappointing player has nowhere to go but up. The smashmouth fourth-liner missed the final 12 games because of post-concussion syndrome. His symptoms included headaches and balance issues. He had suffered previous concussions but none with this severity. He took comfort in a conversation with ex-Bruin Patrice Bergeron, whose severe concussion threatened his career. He's not concerned about long-term effects and will begin the first season of a three-year, $4.71 million deal in 2025-26. The primary target in the Brazeau trade with the Minnesota Wild, Khusnutdinov is a fast and shifty wing who isn't afraid of high-traffic ice. The 22-year-old will reach RFA status but should not command a significant raise off his entry-level contract. The backup goalie had a better save percentage (.893) than Swayman (.892. As such, he was not satisfied with his playing time (27 appearances). He will be in line for more action if Swayman can't get back to his level. The puck-pushing defenseman had no trouble creating offense (33 points), but defense was another story. He could be a partner for McAvoy but will need sheltering if his defending doesn't improve. He will reach RFA status, and a bridge contract is the most likely outcome considering his cloudy defensive outlook. The 2020 first-rounder was promoted with only 11 AHL goals. He scored his first NHL goal in his 11th appearance. There's no questioning his skill and speed with the puck, but there are uncertainties with wall play, strength on the puck, defensive coverage and offensive decision-making. He should have every chance to make the club full-time in camp. Advertisement The No. 8 pick from 2017 was underwhelming after arriving from the Colorado Avalanche. He's a highly skilled playmaker who is good at holding pucks and allowing teammates to get open, but is too light on the puck for a 438-game NHL veteran. Mittelstadt has the skill of a top-two center, but shortcomings in other parts of his game are holding him back. He is what he is: a third-pair defensive defenseman who can pick his spots up the ice. The team is not served well if he moves into a top-four position. The franchise erred by rushing the 2022 second-rounder before he was ready, which was not his fault. His confidence took a hit when he couldn't make plays and put himself at risk of injury. He would have been a first-year pro had the Bruins kept him in junior in 2023-24. He's a point-per-game AHL player but is no lock to make the varsity in 2025-26. The veteran center/left wing finished the regular season as one of only three active players who dressed for Game 7 against the Florida Panthers last year (Pastrnak and Swayman were the others). He was slowed by a knee injury this season. He would have value on the trade market but is more important to the Bruins as a multi-position returnee. He settled in as a defensive defender after a turbulent start. Ideally, he's a third-pairing defenseman and penalty killer. He's not afraid to speak his mind and finished the regular season with an NHL-high 145 penalty minutes. The 2019 first-rounder scored just three goals and was scratched for the final two games. He's one of the team's fastest straight-line skaters but has struggled to apply his speed toward offensive chances. He will reach RFA status and may not be qualified if the Bruins are dissatisfied with his development. He does not appear to have a ceiling beyond the fourth line The plucky left wing was delighted to return to his draft team. He will play for Czechia at the World Championships for the first time. He will reach RFA status and may not be qualified if the Bruins believe they can find a cheaper and younger fourth-liner with more offensive potential. Advertisement The right-shot depth defenseman will reach RFA status. He appears to be more of an AHLer than an NHLer. The waiver pickup scored just once in 16 games. He has an above-average NHL shot but did not do enough to use it. He will reach RFA status and may not be qualified if the Bruins don't consider him NHL-worthy. The high-motor fourth-liner and Providence captain is highly regarded by teammates and coaches. He will reach UFA status. The defensive defenseman fulfilled a dream by playing for his hometown team. The Franklin native projects to be a third-pair defender. He will reach Group 6 UFA status. The former Buffalo Sabres defenseman held his own on the No. 1 pair next to Zadorov following his arrival. He was earning $3.1 million annually, an expensive price. He will reach UFA status. A meat-and-potatoes wing who started the year well on the fourth line, Koepke could get a raise elsewhere because of his speed and willingness to go to the net. He will reach UFA status. The energetic right wing played with pace and skill. He's a prototypical high-character player who shuttles between the NHL and AHL without complaint. He will reach UFA status. A defensive defenseman with some puck-moving touch, he can be a depth defender on a good team. He will reach UFA status.
New York Times
14-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Could an Elias Lindholm, David Pastrnak reunion go better for Bruins next season?
PITTSBURGH — Elias Lindholm has the profile of a No. 3 center. He is good defensively. He has won 55.3 percent of his faceoffs. After a goal and an assist in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, he has 46 points, his lowest sum for a single team since scoring 44 points for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017-18. Advertisement But the best spot Lindholm could play for the Boston Bruins in 2025-26 could be the No. 1 line. If you think that is a contradiction, consider that Lindholm has three goals and four assists in the last five games while centering Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak. Some of it is catching the drift Geekie and Pastrnak have created. But Lindholm has done his own heavy lifting on the first line, primarily by going to the net like he did in the first period to score his 17th goal. 'He understands what he needs to do to be effective on that line,' interim coach Joe Sacco said. 'Not only defensively, but offensively. He's been doing that lately, right? He's getting that net front, the blue paint, the top of the blue-paint area. It's critical, especially with David and Geeks. Right now, obviously they move the puck well around the outside. But if you don't have someone inside driving the net, it becomes less effective.' The Bruins have always known what Pastrnak can do with and without the puck. His touch as a finisher is unquestionable. It is not easy to score 40-plus goals in four straight seasons. But Pastrnak is expressing his playmaking side once more. He set up Lindholm in the first period. His slot-line pass in the second let Geekie rocket a one-timer past Tristan Jarry for his 32nd goal. Pastrnak is up to 62 assists, one off his career pace from last year. In 2022-23, Pastrnak enjoyed playing with David Krejci, a pure playmaker. Before that, he benefited from riding with Patrice Bergeron, who excelled at winning pucks for Pastrnak, not necessarily threading him Krejci-like feeds. But Pastrnak is proving he does not require a pass-first pivot. 'Yes, because he'd probably score even more,' Sacco said of pairing Pastrnak with a disher. 'But the way he's playing the game, he's doing both. He's scoring and he's playmaking. I guess that's a good thing to have.' The Bruins signed Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract to be their No. 1 center this season. The plan went sideways on the first day of training camp when Lindholm suffered an undisclosed injury. The first-year Bruin missed more than a week. He was not right when he returned. Lindholm had trouble adjusting to everything about Boston. At the same time, Pastrnak was trying to turn the corner after missing critical offseason training because of an unknown injury suffered during the World Championships. The two misfiring forwards, with Pavel Zacha on their left flank, never found their traction. Ex-coach Jim Montgomery had no choice but to drop Lindholm off the No. 1 line. Advertisement Things have changed. A five-game sample has given the Bruins hope that a Geekie-Lindholm-Pastrnak partnership could be a go-to trio next year. 'It was a tough start. Kind of missed the whole training camp there,' Lindholm said. 'Obviously, we weren't playing any good hockey at that time. Obviously, Dave throughout the season has gotten better and better. Watching him now for almost a full season, you know what he likes to do out there.' Pastrnak and Geekie do not need Lindholm to handle the puck and make plays. They do that well enough themselves. In particular, they have developed a knack for making east-west connections. A go-to sequence: Pastrnak controls the puck on the right side, sells a shot to bait the goalie, completes a slot-line pass for Geekie to one-time into an empty net. If Lindholm wins faceoffs, goes to the net and stays home defensively, Pastrnak and Geekie can take care of the rest. 'Offensively, yeah, no question. Defensively, probably not,' Sacco said with a smile when asked if Pastrnak can play the part of center and right wing. 'The way he's seeing the game right now offensively, like he typically does, the ability to finish off goals and set up goals is almost acting as another centerman right now on the ice.' This would allow Zacha to be the No. 2 center and Casey Mittelstadt to be on the third line. Zacha set up Fabian Lysell in the second period with an inside-out pass. The right wing finished it off for his first career goal. 'It felt awesome,' said Lysell, who appeared in his 11th game. 'But when you're in it, you're in the game. You just try to refocus and focus on the next shift. But it felt amazing.' At this point, losses would improve the Bruins' chances of drafting an impact player in June. But getting more information on Lindholm and seeing Lysell smile after his first goal were helpful benefits of two unnecessary points. Advertisement 'It's always nice to see someone score,' said Lindholm. 'I remember. It's been a long time for me. But every time you see someone score a first goal in the NHL, it's always nice to see. It's a good feeling, for sure.' (Top photo of Morgan Geekie, David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm: Justin Berl / Getty Images)
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sweeney gives update on Bruins' trade deadline plans, Lindholm injury
Sweeney gives update on Bruins' trade deadline plans, Lindholm injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney met with reporters Sunday and gave an unfortunate update on injured defenseman Hampus Lindholm. Lindholm is 'unlikely' to return this season, per Sweeney. The veteran d-man suffered a fractured patella that required surgery earlier this season. Lindholm hasn't played since Nov. 12. There's also no timeline on when defenseman Charlie McAvoy will return to the lineup. McAvoy suffered a shoulder injury playing for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Sweeney also talked about the team's approach ahead of the March 7 trade deadline, which is only about two weeks away. 'I think we'll take a much more cautious approach as we approach the deadline,' Sweeney told reporters. This is not the kind of tone Sweeney has had at the trade deadline for most of his career as Bruins GM. Since taking over the role in 2015, Sweeney has been a consistent buyer at the trade deadline, even going all-in some years. But the Bruins need to be realistic about where they stand in the playoff race. The B's have a 27-24-7 record amid a three-game losing streak. They entered Sunday five points behind the Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division, but they've also played three more games than Tampa Bay. The B's are one point behind the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings for the two Eastern Conference wild card berths, but they also have more games played than both of those teams. Analytics site MoneyPuck gives Boston just a 15.4 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to its model. It makes little sense for the Bruins to add players at this deadline unless they are in the prime of their career and have term left on their contract. Rentals should be a non-starter. It also makes sense for the Bruins to listen to trade offers on players who can become free agents in the offseason. That group includes Trent Frederic (UFA), Justin Brazeau (UFA) and Morgan Geekie (RFA), among others. The Bruins are back in action Tuesday against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden.
