The Boston Bruins will have $20+ million to spend this offseason. The Hockey News is evaluating potential targets leading up to July 1.
With NHL Free Agency opening on July 1, the Boston Bruins will have decisions to make on their expiring contracts as well as players leaving other teams that they could make a run for on the open market.
Earlier this month, we ranked the top 10 most important Boston Bruins free agents, consisting of the players with expiring contracts and their relative value to the team.
This time, we’ll be covering 10 free agents from other teams that could be attractive to Boston. These are not ranked in any particular order, but it will ultimately focus on the Bruins’ biggest needs: a top-six forward (or two), a left-shot defenseman and – potentially – a backup goalie for Jeremy Swayman.
There will be a new name covered every day leading up to the start of free agency.
Elias Lindholm, Forward
Age: 29
2023-24 team(s): Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks
2023-24 stats: 75 GP, 15G-29A-44P
Previous Contract AAV: $4.85 million
Expected New AAV (per AFPAnalytics): $6.8 million
The Swedish forward just completed a six-year, $29.1 million contract he signed with the Calgary Flames in 2018 after starting his career with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Lindholm was traded to the Vancouver Canucks at the end of January to bolster the Western Conference leaders ahead of a potential Stanley Cup run. After bowing out in the second round to the Edmonton Oilers, the Canucks could potentially see Lindholm walk after just 39 games (between regular season and playoffs).
The Bruins reportedly were in the mix to acquire Lindholm during the season, with reports surfacing of Vancouver potentially flipping him to Boston in early March despite acquiring him in January. The interest was there, both before and after he departed from Calgary, and come July, the Bruins will have another chance to get him.
Despite scoring just 15 goals and 44 points this season, Lindholm’s appeal to Boston is that he's an experienced top-six center. He scored a career-high 82 points in 82 games just two years ago, and he eclipsed 20 goals and 40 assists last season. He also had five goals and five assists with Vancouver during its 13-game playoff run this season.
The Bruins got a lot of production out of Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha down the middle, but with the cap space to make a big offensive addition – and Jake DeBrusk potentially leaving the club – Lindholm could fit in very well with Boston’s needs.
Of course, the main question is how much money it would take. AFPAnalytics projects a five-year, $33.9 million contract for Lindholm on the open market, but he reportedly rejected extension offers ranging from $8-9 million per year with the Flames before the season and $7 million per year with the Canucks after his trade there.
Does that mean the Bruins would have to offer more? Probably not, as it appears Lindholm might have overplayed his hand there, but he will still likely command a sizable commitment in both years and salary.
Will the Bruins be willing to do that after Lindholm’s down season? Only time will tell.
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