Don Sweeney and the Bruins’ top brass
pledged an “aggressive” offseason this summer, especially with Boston set to enter free agency with nearly $21 million in cap space.
It’s to be expected that the Bruins’ first orders of business this offseason will be to settle in-house business
such as Jeremy Swayman’s next contract — as well as determining the futures of both Linus Ullmark and Jake DeBrusk.
But when it comes to allocating a hefty portion of Boston’s remaining cap space, it’s all but a given that the Bruins will be aggressive in adding another center to their lineup, either through free agency or trade.
Speaking on his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast with co-host Jeff Marek, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman offered up two potential targets for the Bruins as they brace for themselves for a busy offseason.
“We talked about Elias Lindholm, and how he’s a player they liked before he got traded to Vancouver,” Friedman said of the Bruins and their expected targets in free agency. “So I am expecting them to be in on him if he hits the market. Someone else said to me — throw Chandler Stephenson’s name in there. I think there are a lot of people expecting that Stephenson will be on Boston’s radar. People definitely believe Boston is going to get a center.
“When the Bruins say they’re going to do something, they tend to do it. And they tend to attract good players to them because they’re generally a very well-run organization. So I think there’s — whether it’s Lindholm or Stephenson or somebody we’re missing right now. There’s definitely a belief Boston is going to do something here down the middle as they have promised.”
Another top-six center would be a major boost to Boston’s lineup, with a proven option down the middle not only giving Boston added scoring punch — but also pushing other players further down the depth chart in roles perhaps better suited toward their skillset.
Pavel Zacha, Charlie Coyle, and Morgan Geekie all exceeded expectations and thrived in elevated roles last season with Boston. But the addition of a proven top-six option like Lindholm could allow Coyle to slot back to his usual spot at third-line center, or push Zacha back over to the wing.
As Friedman noted, the Bruins have been linked to Lindholm over the last year —
even after the Canucks traded for him in a deal with the Flames on Jan. 31. The pending UFA will command a sizable contract as the best center on the open market — especially given his profile as an effective two-way pivot.
The 29-year-old forward had a down season — production-wise — with Calgary and Vancouver, finishing with 44 points over 75 games. But Lindholm has surpassed the 50-point threshold four times in his career, while his defensive game (second in voting for 2021-22 Selke Trophy) and faceoff skills (56.4 percent this season) would be welcomed in Boston.
Lindholm may not be a bonafide 1C on a stacked roster, but he’s certainly an upgrade over what the Bruins currently feature on their roster.
Stephenson, much like Coyle and Zacha, is a solid middle-six option who probably isn’t suited for a top-line role. But that doesn’t mean that Stephenson isn’t a productive playmaker with a high motor.
Even though Lindholm figures to be the top target for the Bruins in free agency, Stephenson stands as a solid contingency plan if the Bruins intend on coming out of free agency with at least one pivot added to the mix.
