The Bruins had money to spend in free agency this summer and they weren’t shy about showing players the money on the first day of NHL free agency. The B’s were closely linked to frontline center Elias Lindholm for weeks and made it official on July 1 by inking the two-way center for a seven-year contract that will reportedly pay him $7.75 million per season to be Boston’s top pivot.
Elias Lindholm signs a seven-year deal with #bruins carrying a $7.75M AAV.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2024
The 29-year-old Lindholm struggled with 15 goals and 44 points last season splitting time between the Flames and Canucks but had a strong playoff performance in Vancouver while giving Boston a well-rounded, 200-foot center that can match up with the best pivots of the league offensively and defensively.
(Perry Nelson/USA TODAY Sports)
Vancouver Canucks defensemen Nikita Zadorov (91) checks Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place.
Mammoth, mean defenseman Nikita Zadorov gained steam with the B’s in recent days and he too signed with the Bruins in the opening minutes of free agency with a six-year contract that will reportedly pay him $5 million per season.
6 years $5 mill per for Zadorov in Boston.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2024
The 6-foot-6, 248-pound defenseman is a bruiser and a nasty competitor who is going to give B’s opponents something to think about while also having been offensively good enough to post 14 goals with the Flames during the 2022-23 season.
Zadorov will be Boston’s Radko Gudas-type defenseman without the predatory hits after stops in Buffalo, Colorado, Calgary and Vancouver during his 642-game NHL career where he’s topped 100 penalty minutes twice, including last season.
Protect the house.
— Michael Sullivan (@_MikeSullivan) July 1, 2024
Nikita Zadorov signs for 6 years at $5M AAV
Keep your head up.#NHLBruins | @BruinSomethin pic.twitter.com/HQ9etJwR5w
The two signings address big-time Bruins needs at the No. 1 center spot and for a rugged, physical defenseman for a hockey club that was missing a little bit of both last year and had over $20 million in salary cap space to spend. Unfortunately, the lack of a signed contract with Jeremy Swayman will likely keep them from being big spenders beyond those two players as the Bruins goalie is expected to command something in the $7-8 million range on a long-term contract.
The Bruins are watching some players exit via free agency as well as the Vancouver Canucks have signed both Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk (seven years at $5.5 million) away from the Black and Gold, as well. Those departures leave the Bruins with some needs for scoring on the wing as well as the one place they have not made a free agent splash to this point with the signings still coming fast and furiously.
We’ll have more analysis about the B’s foray into free agency after Don Sweeney speaks with the media about the NHL free agent frenzy this afternoon.
