Both unrestricted free agents fit needs general manager Don Sweeney noted last week in his pre-draft presser in Las Vegas, after noting the club fell short again this season in its “ultimate goal to win.”
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Shortly after noon Monday, per chatter circling the league Sunday night, the Bruins could announce the key free agent acquisitions of No. 1 center Elias Lindholm and top-four defenseman Nikita Zadorov (6 feet 6 inches/248 pounds), both of whom finished the past season with the Canucks.
If the increasing rumors prove true, the two impact acquisitions likely would eat up more than half of the $21 million-plus shopping dollars general manager Don Sweeney will have in hand for Monday’s start of NHL free agency.
Both unrestricted free agents fit needs Sweeney
noted last week in his pre-draft presser in Las Vegas, after noting the club fell short again this season in its “ultimate goal to win.”
“We’d like to deepen the middle of the ice,” he added, “so that’s where we’ve been focused to have those talks with our group, to say, ‘OK, who would be the guy?’ And hopefully make the pitch at the right time that we could add a player like that, of that nature. And we’ll continue to look to strengthen our back end and complement the group we have there.”
And from there, added Sweeney, “it’s how much of the pie is left.”
No. 1 goaltender Jeremy Swayman, yet to sign an extension, is in for a large share of that leftover dollar pie. A long-term deal could bring him in the $8 million-$9 million category.
Lindholm, who would be slotted as the club’s top-line pivot, is exiting a six-year deal signed with Calgary (2018) that carried a $4.85 million cap hit. Given his age (29) and production, as well as the Bruins’ need for a bona fide top-six pivot, Lindholm might command a bump to upward of $7.5 million across 4-5 seasons. He could push that to $8 million with some of the league’s bottom feeders (Anaheim, San Jose, Chicago).
Zadorov, who has the combination of size and muscle the Bruins have lacked in back since Zdeno Chara’s departure, has exited a deal, also signed in Calgary, with a $3.75 million cap hit the last two seasons. A similar offer of 4-5 years for the Other Z probably would land around the $5 million cap range.
The Flames, in separate deals last season, wheeled Lindholm and Zadorov to the Canucks. Lindholm’s production in 26 regular-season games was somewhat dull (6-6–12) with Vancouver , but he was a more impressive 5-5–10 in 13 playoff games, Vancouver finally dumped in Game 7 vs. the Oilers in Round 2.
Zadorov has played for five NHL teams, including the Sabres, who made him a Round 1 pick (No. 16/2013) and later dealt him to the Avalanche in the swap that brought Ryan O’Reilly to the Sabres. A left shot, he would go a long way in bringing some thump to a top-four defense group that includes Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Brandon Carlo.
Hampus Lindholm’s production slipped considerably last season. With the 29-year-old Zadorov aboard, coach Jim Montgomery could toggle Lindholm and the Russian big man in the 1-2 spots on the left side, offering a ride-a-long intimidation factor for both of his right-side partners.
Zadorov could go a long way in bringing up back-end production, which slipped some 25 percent when compared to 2022-’23 numbers.
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