Bruins linked to top-six center ahead of the NHL trade deadline
The Bruins have been linked to Canucks center Elias Lindholm ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Boston has had interest in the top-six center in the past, trying to acquire him from the Calgary Flames earlier in the year.
Lindholm was traded to the Canucks on Jan. 31 for a package that included a 2024 first-round draft pick, another draft pick and multiple players.
It appears Lindholm’s time with the Canucks maybe ending as fast as it started. The Athletic's Chris Johnston floated a report on Tuesday that the Bruins could end up with Lindholm before Friday’s 3 p.m deadline.
If the Bruins were to acquire the center, it would mean the Canucks would land Penguins winger Jake Guentzel. The Penguins are looking for a haul in return for their prized winger. The reported ask is a 1st round pick, a young NHL player and prospects. It’s unknown if this reported interest would result in a three-team trade or two separate deals.
In 14 games with the Canucks, Lindholm has six points (four goals, two assists). Overall he has 13 goals with 25 assists in 63 games between Calgary and Vancouver.
Lindholm is a top-six center and has averaged 27.8 goals over the last five seasons. Adding him into the mix on offense would give the Bruins a true No. 1 center.
The Swedish center is in the final year of his contract and won't be cheap to re-sign. If the Bruins are going to extend him, they could be prepared to pay the 29-year-old around $7.5 million or more per year.
We're a little over 48 hours from the NHL trade deadline. Again, the topic of discussion for Bruin fans is will Don Sweeney finally do what he has failed to do for so long now: acquire a legitimate first line center. His failure to do so doesn't just go back to last spring when Bruin legends Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired. It predates that sad event because during his time as GM, he's failed to trade for or draft and develop one or two centers who would've slippled seamlessly into those spots. And replacing two of the best centers in franchise history isn't don't by just automatically moving centers 3 & 4 up to 1 & 2. I will always want Charlie Coyle on my team: he's a leader and he works his ass off, but he isn't a first line center: no one on this roster is and you need one to play next to one of the premiere wingers in hockey, this confusing year and the years to come. Now there are rumours that acquiring Elias Lindholm is still possible: a real top six center who would fill this role nicely. I hope this happens because an increase in off season cap space doesn't matter if there's no one worth spending it on. Have you looked at the UFA list? The other problem can be spending it one the wrong person. Remember that Sweeney's the guy who gave Matt Belesky a 20 million dollar free agent contract in 2015. There are a few guys on this roster who need to move on and some others, like Elias Lindholm, who should move in. Noah Hanifin would be nice too. Neither of these will be easy but Bruins fans don't like to settle for less than we think our team deserves.