Boston Bruins’ Elias Lindholm Experience Is a Cautionary Tale in Frivolous Spending – The Hockey Writers – Boston Bruins
Should the Boston Bruins trade center Elias Lindholm? The marriage has been a rocky one ever since general manager (GM) Don Sweeney acquired him in free agency, as a center who played in the realm of Patrice Bergeron’s Selke-Trophy-winning style.
Related: Bruins Signing Elias Lindholm Proving to Be a Costly Mistake
Signed on July 1, 2024, to a $7.75 million average annual value (AAV) contract, Sweeney had high hopes for Lindholm, as we’d seen him perform as a premier center in the NHL with the Calgary Flames.
He benefited from having linemates such as Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk with the Flames. Compared to Boston, where he’s been put through a meat grinder, with a turnover in talent and coaching. The team hasn’t gotten the best performance out of him since he arrived in 2024.
In two seasons with the Bruins, Lindholm has played 136 games, scoring 29 goals and 87 points and saw himself demoted to the third line against the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
The Bruins need more out of a player they’re spending a pretty penny on.
Bruins Need More Out of Veteran Forward
Should the Bruins consider giving Lindholm a fresh start after two full seasons wearing the Spoked-B?
I’ve been a E.Lindholm defender and early on he felt like he was on pace to prove me right. We need so much more from him, he is winning faceoffs and that’s about it. His defensive impact isn’t even really bieng felt either, for 7.5 and supposed to be 1C he needs to pick it up.
— Ethan Gagnon (@Icymane18) March 13, 2026
Lindholm’s lack of responsibility on the ice has shown up on the scoresheet and in the advanced stats. He’s regressed since he’s put on a Bruins jersey in addition to a $54.2 million payday, thanks to the Bruins’ front office. His underlying stats are one issue that the team will need to focus on cleaning up if they’re to make it to the playoffs and stay there.
Lindholm has taken 934 shifts on the ice during the season and played a total of 711:24, 103:37 of which was spent with his best linemates: Morgan Geekie and Alex Steeves. They played 13 games together, with the line driving offense, which we haven’t seen since then from Lindholm: 44 shots for, and 39 shots against per Natural Stat Trick. They had a Corsi-for percentage of 51.27, and for some reason, head coach Marco Sturm has decided never to reunite them again.
Lately, the Swedish-born center has been found on the third line, taking on the role of a grinder. He’s played alongside Michael Eyssimont and Geekie. His production has continued to nosedive, and as someone whose been pegged as a first-line center, this is a troubling trend. The trio has a CF% of 33.33, a metric for a line that cannot impose its will on its opponents.
The Bruins need more out of a veteran who makes a considerable sum against their cap, especially if they want to emerge out of this retool as contenders. The next best choice could be to trade him for assets, but since his value isn’t at its highest, Sweeney would have to retain salary to make it work.
This has become another “woulda, coulda, shoulda” situation where the team could’ve made a move for someone like Vincent Trocheck instead, but the Bruins were said to be in on Owen Tippett.
A Return For Lindholm Would Be Disappointing
Lindholm has a full no-movement clause (NMC) until the 2029-30 season, which then becomes a ten-team no-trade clause for the remaining two years of his contract. This removes the Bruins’ agency to trade the middle-six center.
The Bruins’ hopes are dashed, as the perception surrounding Lindholm now views him as an overpaid third-line center. In addition to his age, NMC, and a hefty cap hit are factors that could inhibit interest from other teams.
If Sweeney decides to buy him out, they’d bear the brunt of a $5.33 million cap hit for the final two years of the deal. Which isn’t the best route they can take, but they’d get some cap relief and wiggle-room to promote someone else.
It appears the Bruins are locked in with Lindholm until a better solution arrives.
