‘Louder and Louder’: Bruins’ Closing In On Deal To Sign $29 Million Free Agent Forward
The Boston Bruins are still interested in free agent forward Elias Lindholm, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
Lindholm signed a six-year, $29.1 million contract with the Calgary Flames on July 16, 2018. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on February 1, 2024.
Lindholm is set to become a free agent on July 1 after his contract expires, and Pagnotta says that the Bruins are very interested in him.
“Chatter over the Boston Bruins and their interest in signing soon-to-be unrestricted free agent center Elias Lindholm is getting louder and louder,” Pagnotta noted in the piece he penned.
The interest between the Bruins and Lindholm is nothing new, as Boston tried to trade him before Vancouver acquired him and even again while he struggled with the Canucks.
Lindholm recorded 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points in 75 games between the Flames and Canucks last season. In the playoffs, he added 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points in 13 games.
Lindholm is projected to get a seven-year deal worth $8 million per season, according to DailyFaceoff.com.
The Bruins Tried to Trade For Lindholm Last Season
The Bruins had been interested in Lindholm for quite some time, as Boston attempted to get the Swede after Vancouver did.
According to NHL source Chris Johnston, Vancouver considered trading Lindholm to Boston before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline due to his unsatisfactory fit with the team.
“With the Canucks believed to be among those pursuing Jake Guentzel, word is they’ve had discussions about potentially flipping Elias Lindholm to the Bruins as part of the machinations needed to make it happen,” Johnston told reporters. “There is currently no concrete in place. There are still tons of moving components.
However, the trade didn’t happen, but according to Pagnotta, Boston is hoping to sign him as a free agent come July 1.
Boston Plans to be ‘Aggressive’ in Free Agency
The Boston Bruins were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Florida Panthers.
With Boston falling short of its ultimate aim of winning the Cup, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney says he intends to be aggressive in improving the team and making it a legitimate Cup contender for the 2024-25 season.
“I believe we will continue to strive to enhance our back end and complement the personnel we have there. Sweeney told Boston.com that the next step is to determine how much of the pie remains, while acknowledging Jeremy’s role in the equation. “Perfect scenario, you had a deal done there before [free agency], but that’s fine. … We just need to assault.
“I can’t tell you that we’re going to satisfy every need that our group had identified or you might identify, but we are going to be aggressive to try to improve our hockey club.”
Boston enters the offseason with just over $21.6 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. However, the Bruins do have several key free agents like Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Derek Forbot, Matt Grzelcyk, and Jeremy Swayman who is an RFA.
