The Boston Bruins' biggest UFA additions enter an intense environment with high expectations. Here's what Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov will face on the ice.

One-time foes in the 2011 Stanley Cup final, the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks effectively executed a multi-player trade on the first day of NHL free agency.

On July 1, the Bruins snapped up UFA center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov from Vancouver, while the Canucks signed former Bruins Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen and Derek Forbort.

After being acquired in-season from the Calgary Flames, Lindholm and Zadorov were integral parts of the Canucks’ 2024 playoff run. Vancouver tried to keep both players, but the Bruins spent big and signed the two 29-year-olds to long-term deals.

When assessing a trade, the conventional thinking is the team that gets the best player wins the deal. But this situation may not be so clear-cut. 

The Bruins filled two obvious roster holes but paid premium prices — and they might be putting their new acquisitions into an especially intense environment.

Now on their third team together, Lindholm and Zadorov looked relaxed enough last Friday when they threw out the first pitch for a 3-1 Boston Red Sox win over the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.

Here’s what they'll be facing on the ice in Boston.

Elias Lindholm's Big Shoes To Fill

At $54.25 million, Lindholm’s new deal was the biggest total-value UFA contract signed on July 1, and his $7.75 million cap hit was exceeded only by the $8 million Nashville gave Steven Stamkos. 

There's pressure any time a player signs a big contract, especially in a new market. Furthermore, Lindholm is being expected to fill the hole left open when Patrice Bergeron retired one year ago.

They’re both right-shot centers with strong two-way acumen and good faceoff skills. But if fans expect Lindholm to be a carbon copy of one of the best ever to play the game, that could spell trouble.

Lindholm is almost exactly a decade younger than Bergeron and has been a Selke Trophy finalist once in his career — in the 2021-22 season in Calgary when he also put up his career highs of 42 goals and 82 points.

Bergeron won his first Selke at the same age, 27, in the 2011-12 season. He was then named a finalist in each of the next 11 years, right up till his retirement, and earned five more wins — the most of all-time.

When the Canucks acquired Lindholm last January, they parted with a five-piece package of assets that included a first-round draft pick, promising defense prospect Hunter Brzustewicz and goal-scorer Andrei Kuzmenko. At a price like that, Vancouver fans expected major razzle-dazzle, but that didn't happen. 

There was no chemistry with fellow Swede Elias Pettersson, and it was rumored the Canucks might flip Lindholm again before the trade deadline. He stayed, but after missing seven late-season games with a wrist injury, he managed just 12 points in 26 regular-season games with Vancouver.

Even during that rough patch, Canucks coach Rick Tocchet emphasized the subtle, smart aspects of Lindholm’s game that were helping his team. In the playoffs, his contributions became more noticeable:

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Lindholm’s offensive output was especially impressive, considering that he started 67.2 percent of his 5-on-5 playoff shifts in the defensive zone, per hockey-reference.com. But here’s a warning sign: in that environment, he managed a Corsi-for percentage of just 44.6 percent, meaning he was on the ice for more chances against his club than for them.

Nikita Zadorov's Towering Presence

As for Zadorov, the Canucks picked him up in late November for a pair of mid-round picks after the big Russian expressed disappointment with his role with the Flames. 

Ironically, his ice time dropped from 18:24 per game in Calgary to 17:04 in Vancouver. But Zadorov made an immediate impact with his big hits, willingness to drop the gloves to stick up for teammates and choice quips to the media in the dressing room.

In the playoffs, Zadorov saw more ice — ranking third among Vancouver defensemen at 20:09. Though he’d never had more than 22 points in a regular season, he chipped in four goals and eight points over 13 post-season games, and his 45 hits led all Canucks defenders.

Like Lindholm, he was connecting on his shots, with a 19.0-percent shooting percentage, and his top shot speed was a whopping 97.32 mph, per NHL Edge. 

Also like Lindholm, Zadorov’s strong offensive production in the playoffs came despite a mostly defensive role. He started 67.4 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the defensive zone and managed a solid Corsi-for of 49.6 percent, per hockey-reference.com.

Despite his intimidating 6-foot-6, 248-pound frame, Zadorov was always approachable with the Vancouver media. And the more the local fans showed their appreciation for his robust playing style, natty wardrobe and gift of gab, the more he seemed to raise his game.

He got off to a great start in Boston as well — making it crystal clear that he does not see himself as the second coming of Zdeno Chara.

That humility is a perfect example of his ability to read the room.

He’ll let his play do the talking when he hits the ice.

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