This Bruins newcomer will be put in a position to succeed.
It is no secret that the Boston Bruins wanted to land Elias Lindholm for quite some time. GM Don Sweeney confirmed he targeted the two-way center for two years before signing him. Now, Sweeney has got his guy, and it has all the potential to be a great move for Lindholm and the team.
When looking at the Bruins' lineup, it is apparent that Lindholm will be put into a position to succeed in Boston. He is now the Original Six club's top center, and he is expected to play on their first line with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha because of it. Playing with a superstar winger like Lindholm should help him get his offensive production back up.
Lindholm has proven that he can be quite effective when playing with star talent. For example, back with the Calgary Flames in 2021-22, when he played on a line with Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, he posted 42 goals, 82 points, and a plus-61 rating in 82 games. Having a superstar like Pastrnak to dish the puck to should help Lindholm bounce back from his shaky 2023-24 season.
Lindholm will also be a critical piece of the Bruins' roster because of his spectacular defensive play. Back in 2022, the 2013 first-round pick finished second in the Selke Trophy race to Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron. Thus, Lindholm should provide more stability in the defensive zone and be the Bruins' top penalty-killer moving forward.
Elias Lindholm
Lindholm ended last season on a strong note, too. In 13 playoff games for the Vancouver Canucks, he posted five goals, 10 points, and a plus-4 rating. This is an encouraging sign heading into next season.
It will be intriguing to see how Lindholm performs for the Bruins from here. The fit looks incredible on paper, and he should instantly become one of their most important players.
