Lindholm locked up
Signs an eight-year, $52-million extension
The Bruins asked defenseman Hampus Lindholm for a date on Saturday. And on Sunday, they put a ring on his finger.
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
The B’s officially announced they had signed the former Anaheim Ducks to an eight-year contract with an average annual salary of $6.5 million. Considering the haul GM Don Sweeney sent back to Orange County – a 2022 first round pick, seconds in ’23 and ’24, Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore – the ability to get an extension done was very much part of the deal.
“I would be hard-pressed to think we’d trade away the assets that we did without the belief that we could enter into the extension,” said Sweeney on Sunday. “The timing is difficult. You obviously have to have some trust that your group is going to find common ground after the fact, but we were confident in doing our due diligence that this was a place Hampus would be excited to play in.”
That intelligence was on the money.
The 28-year-old Lindholm, expected to travel to Boston on Monday and be in the lineup Thursday against Tampa Bay, knew there were other teams in the mix for his services. The Ducks, he said, offered more money but less term. But while Anaheim is in a transition period, Lindholm wanted to come to a more competitive situation. He also knew that the Bruins were a team that had long showed interest in him so, with all things considered, he took the plunge.
“We only play against them twice a year, but I’ve been in the league long enough now that I’ve played them a bunch of times and they’ve always had that grit to them,” said an effusive Lindholm. “They play like a fun style of hockey but still with that winning mentality. They have some winners on that team and playing against them, they have always been tough games. I love those kind of those games. They’ve always been fun games against Boston. And the fans and the city speaks for itself. I’m super excited to be a part of that. I’m ready to get going.”
Lindholm has some familiarity with the B’s. He knows Linus Ullmark from Swedish national team events. He’s also met David Pastrnak, who played junior hockey in Sweden, a few times. And after the deal was struck, both Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand gave him call.
Asked if he thought he could be the piece that puts the B’s over the top, Lindholm displayed a healthy level of confidence, both in himself and his new team.
“I think they are at a championship caliber team (now) – and any team I come to is going to be a better team,” said Lindholm, chosen sixth overall by Anaheim in 2012.
Coach Bruce Cassidy said Lindholm will play somewhere in the top four and he’ll probably take a look at him with both Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo to see what the best fit is. But quite understandably, the coach was in an upbeat mood when he met reporters on Sunday.
“We’re a better team today. He’s got a legitimate topfour resume in the National Hockey League. He’s playoff-tested and still young,” said Cassidy.
Now it’s up to Cassidy to keep the team humming along like it has been for the past two and half months with the same good vibes. Mike Reilly will go from playing on the top pairing with McAvoy to being in a threeway competition with Derek Forbort and Connor Clifton for two spots.
But to add a player of Lindholm’s caliber, Cassidy is certainly willing to have some tough conversations.
“In this particular case, we’re moving a piece in and Vaak wasn’t playing, so for a coach, it’s a big add,” said Cassidy. “Again, organizationally, you’re giving up assets but you’re putting a player in that’s not easy to find. This is a great addition. But going forward, if we lose a few, it gets difficult. I think were a tight-knit room. Guys play hard for one another and I think it shows on the ice and we care about each other., That’s the tough part. But I wouldn’t say you get hardened to it over the years but it is a business and sometimes it happens.”
Jake DeBrusk, meanwhile, is still a Boston Bruin at the moment. He requested a trade last summer and that request became public in November. Since then, he’s been bumped up to the top line and he’s been performing well. While Sweeney remains very active, he made it clear he won’t DeBrusk unless it makes the B’s better.
“I’ll continue to explore,” said Sweeney. “I don’t think Jake’s changed his opinion. But that doesn’t mean it happens. I’ve told him that from Day One. If I can make a fit for the Boston Bruins to help out team…and Jake’s helping our team. I certainly would only do it if it helps our team.”
Sweeney said he’ll keep grinding to find another deal that makes sense. But if this is the group that he’ll take into the playoffs, then he’s comfortable. The deadline is 3 p.m. on Monday.
Studnicka still sore
Cassidy said Jack Studnicka was hurting from a blocked shot in Winnipeg and did not practice on Sunday. Cassidy said he was a question mark for Monday’s game in Montreal. Studnicka, of course, could also be a trade chip.
With Bergeron still out with an infection in his arm – Cassidy said he’s questionable for Thursday’s game as well – and Studnicka possibly out, Tomas Nosek centered the top line with
Marchand and DeBrusk while the recently signed Marc McLaughlin centered the fourth line in practice. The former Boston College captain could make his pro debut Monday in Montreal.
Cassidy said he picked Jerry York’s brain on McLaughlin’s capabilities and the BC coach spoke highly of he player’s character. And to Cassidy, the North Billerica native reminds him of a former Bruin.
“He’s got a bit of Noel (Acciari) in his game in terms of a straight line play,” said Cassidy. “But I don’t want to pigeon-hole anybody. Let’s get him out there and play when it’s his turn to go and we’ll be better able to identify where he fits.”
Krejci staying put
David Krejci’s season in Czechia just finished but Sweeney said that he is not an option to come back, choosing to stay with his extended family overseas. He would have had to go through waivers to return.