The Boston Bruins will be revisiting their need for a new top centerman this off-season, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman sharing on the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast that they could target either Elias Lindholm or Chandler Stephenson should either enter the open market. Friedman mentioned that Boston was interested in manufacturing a trade for Lindholm prior to his move to Vancouver this January. The Canucks traded away a top winger in Andrei Kuzmenko, as well as top prospect Hunter Brzustewicz, as a part of the deal to acquire Lindholm – likely indicating that Boston was also ready to pay a premium for his services.
They could get another chance to entice Lindholm’s camp this summer, with Vancouver’s leadership not mentioning Lindholm’s negotiations in their exit interviews. The Canucks are entering the off-season with 11 pending free agents and $23MM in cap space, with hefty contracts likely due to Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Filip Hronek. Each could rival a cap hit above $5MM, making it tricky to retain all three while still rounding out their depth.
Lindholm recorded 44 points in 75 games this season, his lowest scoring since he was with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017-18. His move to Vancouver was a catalyst for that decreased scoring, with Lindholm dipping from 0.653 points per game with the Flames to 0.462 points per game with the Canucks. He was able to revitalize his offense in the postseason, recording five goals and 10 points in 13 games, but Lindholm’s performance this season still situates him a long ways away from the $8MM price tag he was reportedly asking for last summer.
That’s good news for the Bruins, who weren’t shy about pursuing Lindholm last summer either. It’s clear to see why they’d be eager to bring in Lindholm’s explosive offensive style – with his strength in driving through the neutral zone a great compliment to David Pastrnak’s elite skill on the wing.
But while Lindholm offers offensive upside – and likely a corresponding costly price tag – Chandler Stephenson would be much more of Boston’s ‘MO’.
Stephenson is a very fundamentally-talented centerman, who’s showed an impressive ability to use his high hockey IQ to make plays in all three zones. He’s lauded one of the most effective two-way centermen in the league, with his stout defense giving his wingers – like Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault – more opportunity to spearhead the offense. Stephenson’s talents would be a serviceable replacement for the years of elite two-way play of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, even if his performance isn’t on the Selke Trophy-demanding level of his predecessors. Stephenson is coming off a four-year, $11MM contract that’s turned into one of the most team-friendly deals in the league – with Vegas’ second-line centerman effectively costing $2.75MM in cap space over the last four seasons. With such a modest salary, any offer paying Stephenson his market value would mark a substantial pay raise. That could work in Vegas’ favor when negotiations roll around, though the Golden Knights are still facing seven pending free agents, including Stephenson and Marchessault, with less than $1MM in cap space.
The Bruins will be quick to act, and likely quick to spend, should either Lindholm or Stephenson get priced out of staying with their current teams. Boston has 12 pending free agents of their own, including Jeremy Swayman and Jake DeBrusk, though they have roughly $21MM available to re-sign them. The team could also free up cap space by trading former Vezina Trophy-winner Linus Ullmark, who carries a $6MM cap hit. Pavel Zacha stepped into the spotlight and performed well this season, posting a career-high 59 points and forming a duo with Pastrnak that even carried over into the 2024 World Championship. But it was clear that Boston was missing an X-factor as they looked to keep their energy up in the second round. Addressing that missing piece will seemingly be their top priority this summer, with two of the market’s top names already in Boston’s sight.
RNH would be the one I would make a trade for.
The Bruins don’t have the assets to trade for Nugent-Hopkins. Just have to give a free agent money
Sweeney said is media availabllity after Boston was eliminated that the Bruins were looking to add scoring. That would lead to Lindholm being their top target. Also, Lindholm is solid on faceoffs and that is an area in which the Bruins need to improve on greatly
There is no top centers in free agency. Some 2nd liners available.
Byfield for a goalie.
Ullmark won’t go to LA & the Bruins aren’t trading Swayman. So that’s not happening
Well he reportedly vetoed the trade to LA @ the deadline when he would have had 48 hours to report and either bring his wife and 2 young children with him or leave them 3 thousand miles away. Now with an entire off season to figure it out it could be a different story especially if LA threw in a contract extension since he’s headed into the last year of his deal.
Most of the teams on Ullmark’s no-trade list are on the west coast. His family is comofortable on the east coast & doesn’t want to move west. Last offseason, Edmonton called to gauge Ullmark’s interest in going there and were told that he wouldn’t waive his no-trade to go there. That wasn’t in-season. Doubtful he goes to LA in the offseason. Carolina or New Jersey are more likely destinations for Ullmark
Idk there’s been reports that they may trade Swayman and extend Ullmark
Swayman is a restricted free agent so another team could in theory sign him to a contract that they can’t afford or think it’s to much for him they seem to be high on Bussi and we’ve seen goalie coach Bob turn so many goalies into soiled ones and this team could really use the 4 first round picks or the other one I think it’s 2 1st a 2nd and a 3rd (it’s the comp if he’s signs and they don’t match) or some high end prospect
Big difference between he “won’t go to LA” and “doubtful he goes to LA” Talk about moving goalposts
As a Bruin fan of almost 55 years I was well aware of the Edmonton situation last year and you need to remember that at the time he was the Veznia Trophy winner and still the Bruins #1 guy. Also after Winnipeg (which is everyone’s #1) I’m fairly certain that Edmonton is in the top 3 of NTC destinations for those with even limited NTC clauses.
Carolina and New Jersey reportdely have inquired before so they’re obvious options although the Bruins have to be careful dealing him within the conference.
Again a team stepping in with a contract extension could do alot to change a family’s “comfort” level
Yup and they’ll overpay like hell it’s time for a rebuild they got jack from McAvoy,Lindholm Coyle and Zacha in the playoffs and they have absolutely nothing in the system to make any kinda real change or give us hope for a future