Elias Lindholm looks to boost Bruins at this specific, critical role
Bruins center Elias Lindholm is set to play a number of key roles on the team, few more important than the coveted “bumper” spot on the power play.
The Boston Bruins power play has stagnated. But their biggest off-season addition should give it a jolt.
Elias Lindholm is going to be counted on for a number of critical roles in the Bruins lineup, as one of the NHL’s better two-way centers (four-time Selke Trophy finalist) and the new No. 1 guy down the middle. But to drill it down further, Lindholm is also carrying expectations of improving the power play as the team’s new primary “bumper.”
Mainly manned by Patrice Bergeron and replaced admirably by Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle in the 2023-24 season, the “bumper” patrols the middle of the ice on the man advantage and is expected to both score and distribute to open guys, whichever the situation calls for at the time. Expect Lindholm to shoulder the majority of that burden in the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.
MORE: Don Sweeney explains why the Bruins cut Fabian Lysell from camp
“Our power play, we talked about that. It slipped a little bit in the last half of last year. I think that can come back now that maybe we have a little bit more of a bumper position solidified with Elias,” said team president Cam Neely on Monday. “I think he likes to play there, so we’ll see how that goes. But I feel like we’re a strong contender if we’ve got our full lineup.”
The B’s got remarkably similar power play production over the past two seasons, as they transitioned into the post-Bergeron/David Krejci era. They’ve had a 22.2% power play percentage in each of the past two years, ranking 14th and 12th in the NHL, respectively.
At center, Zacha and Coyle averaged about 14.2 minutes per point on the power play combined last season, compared to 14.5 minutes per point for Bergeron and Krejci. Lindholm, meanwhile, has averaged about 13.5 minutes per point on the power play over the past two seasons, between the Flames and Canucks. His 2.15 power play goals per 60 minutes are better than everyone else on the Bruins over the past two years, other than Trent Frederic, who only played 33:37 of PP time on ice in that span.
The PP did have the aforementioned drop-off in 2024. From Feb. 1 on in the regular season, their 16.1% power play ranked 29th. Increased production was necessary, and should be expected with Lindholm taking over the primary duties in the middle of the man advantage.
“Last couple years, I feel like I played pretty much everywhere, so I’m pretty comfortable playing wherever they want me to play,” Lindholm said Monday. “I’m happy to play [the bumper], and I think obviously try to use my shot as much as possible and be available.”
The “bumper,” and the power play in general, are clear areas of improvement over the past two years of mediocre-or-worse performance on the ice. Lindholm should help there, and also be an asset in other specific aspects of the team – faceoffs, breakouts – where their lack of center depth hurt them.
Lindholm missed over a week of training camp, as he became a new dad. He has some rust to knock off, but before that, his line with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak looked dynamic. His presence figures to make a major difference up and down the lineup, across the ice, and over the full 60 minutes. A better bumper will be central to that difference.
MORE: The Bruins have already announced their Opening Night starter
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
Bruins slice camp roster in half with massive round of cuts
- Up front, the Bruins decided to send 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell down to Providence. The talk of the offseason, especially when it came to a vacant ‘RW2’ spot that was intentionally left unaddressed by the club, Lysell started slow this preseason, but appeared to pick things up with a goal and a penalty drawn in his second outing. Lysell also got the call in Saturday’s overtime loss in Philadelphia, and appeared to show some definite progress when it came to his on-ice vision and adapting to pro tendencies. But it was not enough for Lysell to warrant a longer look this preseason, even with another three games left on the warm-up slate, with Lysell sent to the AHL once again. In three games this preseason, the 21-year-old Lysell recorded one goal and four shots on goal. Lysell was also tied for the third-most individual scoring chances for (all strengths, with five, according to NaturalStatTrick. One definite complaint you can have about Lysell this preseason is that the Black and Gold didn’t really seem to get him involved with NHL-level talent beyond the opening days, with Lysell’s final preseason appearance coming on what was a third-line look with Johnny Beecher and Patrick Brown.
Sep 24, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Fabian Lysell (23) blocks a pass during the third period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 04: Georgii Merkulov #42 of the Boston Bruins takes a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at TD Garden on January 04, 2024. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Along with Lysell, the Bruins also sent Georgii Merkulov, another player who was considered a potential favorite (among young players anyway) to make the NHL jump, back down to the AHL.
Merkulov’s demotion comes with the Russian-born forward tied for the team lead with two points (both assists) through three games this preseason. For Merkulov, who was at one point in camp lauded by Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery for his practice habits and efforts, the best play of the preseason came on a slick backhand dish to Justin Brazeau for a goal in last Tuesday’s preseason win over the Capitals at TD Garden.
In addition to the points, Merkulov was credited with three hits, a blocked shot, and won 14 of 30 faceoffs throughout his three-game preseason run with the club.
Sep 26, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins center Trevor Kuntar (52) deflects a shot on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) during the first period at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports)
Elsewhere up front, the Bruins also reassigned forwards Joey Abate, Riley Duran, Brett Harrison, Trevor Kuntar, Adam Mechura, and Jaxon Nelson to AHL Providence. Both Harrison (Thursday in NY) and Kuntar (last Sunday against the Rangers) found the back of the net during their preseason runs with the Bruins.
One notable when it came to this round of cuts is that Tyler Johnson, who is with the Bruins on a pro tryout, remains with the NHL club here beyond the halfway point of the preseason slate.
Sep 24, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Michael Callahan (79) checks a shot by New York Rangers center Jake Leschyshyn (15) during the second period at TD Garden. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
On the point, the Bruins went with some definite expected cuts, with Drew Bavaro, Frederic Brunet, Michael Callahan, Jackson Edward, Ryan Mast, and Mason Millman all assigned to Providence for the opening of P-Bruins camp. Nobody in this group was expected to compete for NHL minutes with the Bruins out of the gate.
In fact, this appears to be a case of the Black and Gold going with the path of least resistance when it comes to their first cuts from the backend, with every waiver-eligible defender who’s ultimately bound for the AHL by the time the season starts remaining with the club at this point in camp.
The B’s backend probably has the least room for movement out of every position group on this roster, with Parker Wotherspoon expected to be Boston’s seventh defenseman after a strong finish to his 2023-24.
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: Kasimir Kaskisuo #50 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on November 13, 2019. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
In goal, the Bruins assigned Ryan Bischel and Nolan Maier to Providence, while veteran Kasimir Kaskisuo was released from his pro tryout with the club but also assigned to the P-Bruins.
All three goaltenders failed to draw into action for the club prior to their respective cuts.
