NHL Free Agents: Will the Bruins Pursue Elias Lindholm to Upgrade at Center? originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins need a top-six center.
Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha played very well during the 2023-24 NHL regular season and set career highs with 60 and 59 points, respectively.
But the Stanley Cup Playoffs showed that acquiring a more traditional top-six center — someone who can consistently generate offense and win more than 50 percent of his matchups — still a roster need for this franchise. Zacha has scored one goal in 25 career playoff games. Coyle has scored just one goal in 13 games during the 2024 playoffs.
Fortunately for the Bruins, there are several good centers who could hit the free agent market in July. The most notable names include Elias Lindholm, Steven Stamkos, Chandler Stephenson, Matt Duchene, Max Domi, Alex Wennberg, among others. However, it’s possible not everyone makes it to free agency.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his last episode 32 thoughts podcast with co-host Jeff Marek, provided some interesting information about the Bruins’ offseason plans, specifically their expected center search.
“I expect (the Bruins) to be high on (Lindholm) if he hits the market,” Friedman said. “Someone told me, put Chandler Stephenson’s name in there. I think there’s a lot of people hoping Stephenson is on Boston’s radar. People definitely believe Boston is going to get a center. … Whether it’s Lindholm, Stephenson or we’re missing someone else now, there is definitely a belief that they will do something in between”
The Bruins reportedly were interested in acquiring Lindholm before the March 8 trade deadline, but ended up going to the Vancouver Canucks. Lindholm had a rough start in Vancouver, but was very good for the Canucks in the playoffs with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 13 games.
He’s a legitimate top-six center who creates scoring chances for teammates and wins faceoffs at a high level. The B’s really struggled in faceoffs during the regular season and playoffs. The 29-year-old veteran is also capable of scoring 15 to 25 goals per season.
Lindholm isn’t a dominant player, but he would be an upgrade over Coyle and Zacha. The Swedish center is also a very good defensive forward and finished second to former Bruins star Patrice Bergeron in the 2021-22 Selke Trophy voting.
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Stephenson scored more than 50 points in three consecutive seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights. He scored 16 goals and 35 assists in 75 games last season. Stephenson was a key contributor during the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup title run last year, with 20 points in 22 playoff games.
Lindholm is a more talented and well-rounded player than Stephenson, but either of them would be a good addition to the Bruins’ roster if they can make it work (and also assuming those players reach free agency).
The Bruins are expected to have about $21 million in salary cap space in the offseason, by CapFriendly – much more than last summer.
