On Jan. 30, the Vancouver Canucks acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames. He struggled through 26 injury-hampered regular-season games with his new club but performed well in the postseason with 10 points in 15 games.
Lindholm is coming off a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.9 million. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. While his stats were down this season, he remains the best center in this summer’s free-agent market. He could get a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $7 million.
The Boston Bruins were believed to be interested in Lindholm before his trade to Vancouver. On June 9, the Vancouver Province‘s Ben Kuzma reported a rumor that the Canucks looked into moving the two-way center to the Bruins before the March trade deadline in a three-team deal involving the Pittsburgh Penguins to make room for Jake Guentzel.
Guentzel instead wound up in Carolina and Lindholm finished the season in Vancouver. However, the Bruins could pursue him if he tests the UFA market on July 1. They made do this season with Charlie Coyle centering their top line, but he’s best suited for second- or third-line duty.
The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa anticipates the Bruins will make a big push for Lindholm in free agency, citing their need for an established first-line center. Despite the 29-year-old center’s struggles this season, Shinzawa believes his career arc remains high, praising his solid two-way play. With $23.9 million in cap space, they have the room to sign Lindholm.
