The Bruins missed their chance to trade for center Elias Lindholm… or so we thought.
Elias Lindholm rumors are back!
According to a new report, the coveted center may be back on the trade block, just over a month after the Vancouver Canucks acquired him from the Calgary Flames – and Boston could be his next destination.
TSN’s Chris Johnston reported Tuesday afternoon that the Canucks are now pursuing Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, and that they’ve “had discussions about potentially flipping Elias Lindholm to the Bruins as part of the machinations to make it happen.”
If that were to happen, it could happen quickly. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported earlier Tuesday that the Penguins are hoping to have a Guentzel trade finalized by Wednesday evening, preferring not to take things right up to Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
The Canucks originally acquired Lindholm (who is not related to Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm) on Feb. 1 for forward Andrei Kuzmenko, a first-round pick, a conditional fourth-round pick, and two defense prospects.
Lindholm has not been a natural fit in Vancouver, though. The Canucks started off playing him on the wing with fellow Swede Elias Pettersson, then moved him to third-line center. Lindholm’s greatest success in the NHL – specifically his 42-goal, 82-point season in 2021-22 – has come while centering talented wings (Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau) in a first-line role.
Lindholm has 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 63 games overall this season, but has just six points (4 goals, 2 assists) in 14 games with the Canucks.
If the Bruins were to acquire Lindholm, they would presumably plan on playing him at center, high in their lineup, possibly with David Pastrnak on his right. And they would hope that would boost both Lindholm’s production and their own top-six production.
Lindholm, 29, is a pending free agent with a cap hit of $4.85 million.