By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The Boston Bruins’ primary center is entering a pivotal year in the team’s retool, and he has the ability to drive the identity the organization is aiming for this season. After an early injury last season, Elias Lindholm will now have full use of his physical tools. His two-way game remains a crucial asset for a top line that needs to compete with the league’s best.
With Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak coming off strong seasons, Lindholm could help take the first line to the next level it needs to reach. Although his career season with the Calgary Flames feels far away, his clean bill of health and thriving linemates are reasons to be patient with him.
Lindholm’s offensive game fits a common theme among the Bruins’ current centermen, with playmaking as his primary strength and scoring as a secondary skill. He has 369 assists and 235 goals to support this, but there is still potential for more balance, as shown in his 2021-2022 career year when he tallied 42 goals and 40 assists.
As part of his offensive efforts this season, the keys to watch are Lindholm maintaining his relentless stick-checking forecheck while also increasing his physicality with a healthier back. He has always been perceptive in his positioning on the ice, but his health kept him from being consistently strong on the puck last season. If he can do this, it will create more opportunities for him and his linemates to produce.
For Lindholm defensively this season, he will need to add more physicality to help address the defensive zone issues that plagued the team last year. This should come naturally to him, as he has always paired his playmaking ability with a defensively responsible approach.
With a penalty-kill unit that was also lackluster, there is hope that a healthy Lindholm can be part of a group that restores it to its usual reliability. Increased physicality along the boards should help Lindholm make opponents uncomfortable on their power plays. Although he is just now returning to full health, there is no question the Bruins will rely on Lindholm to reinforce their defensive structure.
Even at his weakest last season, it was clear that Lindholm could serve as a valuable Swiss Army knife for the team. He was part of many different line combinations last season, ranging from the top-line center role to even centering the third line.
This was partly due to poor play, but the point is that Lindholm’s complementary game is always impactful in some measure, and this season could be the one where he takes off. Compared to having Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk as linemates in his best season, he will also have plenty of talent to work with in 2025-2026.
Fresh off a solid showing at the Men’s World Hockey Championship for Sweden, it will be worth watching how consistent Lindholm can be down the stretch. Head Coach Marco Sturm will no doubt be eager to use such a responsible center to help set the tone for the team.
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