Bruins GM Don Sweeney doled out a combined $84.25 million, his biggest spending day as the club’s resident shot-caller.
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Please be sure to check back here early next spring, or maybe earlier, to find out for sure if Don Sweeney spent wisely and effectively Monday with his acquisitions of high-profile/high-cost free agents Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov.
Make no mistake, they’re impact guys. The Bruins look like they’ll be better with both in the lineup, and should be better with them in the lineup. Sweeney doled out a combined $84.25 million, his biggest spending day as the club’s resident shot-caller, to bring Lindholm and Zadorov aboard as critically-needed upgrades up front and in back.
Lindholm has hands, hockey IQ and should, noted the nine-year GM, plug seamlessly into the power-play bumper role that lacked a certain, shall we say, pizzazz, chutzpah, and sometimes so much as a clue, without Patrice Bergeron in that spot last season.
Zadorov, the big Russian bear of a man (6 feet 6 inches/248 pounds), will drop directly into the top-four backline group and supply an intimidation factor in front of the Boston net that has gone wanting since the departure of Zdeno Chara, the slightly bigger and more ornery Z, in the summer of ‘20.
That “Help Wanted” ad, seeking a bona fide defensive presence back there, went unanswered for four long years. Such was the shadow cast by Big Z. They knew they’d miss Chara. History has told them how much.
With Zadorov aboard, the top four blueliners, filled out by Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Brando Carlo, now weigh in at 898 pounds and measure 25 feet, 4 inches. Add a foot or so to that for the height of their skate blades and, voila, the NHL’s 31 opposing teams shouldn’t be waltzing through the Black and Gold Forest like they too often have since Chara’s exit.
Some crucial subtext, not directly related to Mssrs. Lindholm and Zadorov, continued to evolve for the Bruins on UFA Day.
Sweeney made clear he wants a faster, harder team to play against. Specifically, he wants skaters who “arrive on time” on the forecheck. I don’t think I was the only one in the press gallery to hear the silent “ding!-ding!-ding!” bell echo around the Guest Street practice facility when he said it.
That’s precisely what he should want after watching his club get booted from the playoffs the last two years by the Panthers, who just won a Stanley Cup with a forecheck-first-last-and-always approach that chewed up the Lightning, the Bruins, the Rangers, and the Oilers. The Panthers won on talent backed by will and force, mainly in the form of an oft-ferocious forecheck, one that punished the Bruins’ defensive group.
Had the Bruins been able to match Florida’s forechecking the last two springs, we might have seen back-to-back Duck Boat parades in ‘23 and ‘24. But they didn’t come close, for pace, will or ferocity. The Panthers didn’t bumrush the Bruins out the backdoor, but they persevered and overcame on speed, unremitting smack and composure. It’s will and coaching that best bring all that out, and the Panthers had bigger will and better coaching, an overall better method.
Adding skilled guys in Lindholm and Zadorov alone, Sweeney well realizes, doesn’t guarantee the boats come rollin’ through the old West End next year, either. There has to be more. If not, then it will be six straight seasons of exiting Stanley Cup stage left out after Rounds 1 or 2.
Sweeney’s most telling moment of the day came midway through his 4 p.m. press conference when he mused over how the day might have been a reflection of losing to Florida.
“I don’t think it’s a direct reference to what we didn’t have,” said Sweeney. “Obviously, Florida’s a good team … do I think we should have gotten to a Game 7 and see what happens? Yeah, I do. I think we left it on the table in [losses] in Game 4 and 6. I am hopeful that these two players tip that scale in our direction moving forward … as I referenced, Elias has been in those top spots. I can’t tell you whether or not he would have done a better job against [Sasha] Barkov than Charlie [Coyle].”
Exactly. There is no knowing. The result was Barkov won out over Coyle, and he could well overcome Lindholm if Boston’s overall attack doesn’t change. Change parts all you want. But the approach, in speed of play and execution and determination, has to change with it. Being a tick behind in today’s game ultimately means being left behind.
“Yeah, 100 percent,” said Sweeney, when asked if he felt his emphasis on improved forechecking was as important as newly acquired headliners.
On follow-up, when asked if he had not liked the forecheck for some time, he added, “Again, some of these guys were just getting to the league, and not knowing what they’re supposed to be … ”
Ergo, Sweeney went out Monday and signed Max Jones, a 6-3 left winger, ex- of the Ducks, who he believes can play the crash-and-bang game.
“How we are going to utilize him is important,” added the GM.
The prior Monday, in the deal that sent Linus Ullmark to Ottawa, Sweeney obtained Mark Kastelic, a 6-4 right shot center — and another candidate for crash-and-bang duty. Another guy with size and legs.
“Son, there’s no reason for you not to be killing penalties,” said Sweeney, recalling his conversation with Kastelic. “So spend this time this summer … and understand what those responsibilities are.”
Sweeney’s overall mantra: speed, size and ability to forecheck and possess pucks. He needs more guys to do that. He thinks the likes of guys like Jones and Kastelic will deliver it. If not, knows now, he’ll have to find someone who can.
Have a great summer y'all.
