As Bruins ponder future, a pricey spending spree looms over staff
Bruins
The NHL’s wage cap is ready to soar within the subsequent few offseason, however Boston cannot retool simply by free company.
Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov are accounting for a mixed cap hit of practically $13 million per yr. (AP Picture/Pamela Smith)
Elias Lindholm had a productive night time on Thursday at TD Backyard.
For simply the fifth time in 53 video games this season, the Bruins pivot registered no less than two factors on the scoresheet — orchestrating Brad Marchand’s power-play tally earlier than snapping a shorthanded strike previous Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck later within the contest.
The Bruins, nonetheless, left the ice with zero factors secured within the standings.
It’s been that kind of season for Lindholm and his new staff, with Boston’s offseason spending spree doing little to maneuver the needle for a roster now staring at a tangible actuality the place its mismatched personnel is destined to be dismantled.
A number of elements have contributed to the present rudderless state of this Bruins roster — be it regression from key cogs, accidents, and a knack for letting go of the rope in vital conditions.
However the Bruins’ offseason efforts to construct upon an overachieving bunch in 2023-24 has additional compounded Boston’s woes — hampering the group’s efforts to successfully retool on the fly, and saddling a depth chart with gamers which can be shrinking this staff’s ceiling.
Coming into final summer season with $25 million in cap area after dealing Linus Ullmark to Ottawa, the Bruins allotted most of their fiscal flexibility towards Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov — doling out an annual cap hit of $12.75 million and a mixed price ticket of $82.25 million to deliver each skaters aboard.
That steep monetary dedication — coupled with Jeremy Swayman’s eventual $66 million deal — hindered Boston’s means to both retain fleet-footed skater Jake DeBrusk or, on the very least, exchange him with different middle-six scorers like Anthony Duclair ($3.5 million AAV) or Tyler Toffoli ($6 million AAV).
However in Lindholm and Zadorov, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, and Boston’s high brass believed they discovered each their sought-after, 200-foot centerman, in addition to the bruising blueliner required for the playoffs after being knocked on the mat by the Panthers in back-to-back years.
“Elias, I imply, his 200-foot sport is exceptional,” Neely stated at Boston’s Media Day presser in late September. “I imply, I don’t need to put him within the Patrice [Bergeron] class, however he’s Patrice-like.
“And Zadorov, I imply, an enormous again finish like that, it simply solidifies our again finish. Our again finish is massive, they usually’ve bought some beef to them, which I feel bodes nicely within the playoffs. I imply, you bought to get to the playoffs, however I feel we’re constructed a bit bit stronger for the playoffs.”
These playoff hopes are dwindling with every new day, with MoneyPuck now tabbing Boston with only a 19.1 p.c likelihood of internet hosting playoff hockey on Causeway Road this spring.
The lack of each Lindholm and Zadorov to additional elevate Boston’s lineup has additionally been bolstered with every passing week.
Lindholm has been strong in face-offs (54.7 p.c) and defensive assignments, whereas additionally rating fourth amongst Bruins forwards in shorthanded reps per sport (1:41).
That’s appropriate for a defensive-minded, third-line middle — which has been Lindholm’s main position for the previous few weeks. However the Bruins aren’t paying him near $8 million a yr to be a defensive stopgap. Envisioned as a top-line pivot who might stuff the stat sheet stapled subsequent to David Pastrnak, Lindholm has not registered a 5-on-5 level in his final 13 video games.
Boston has been outscored, 7-6, within the 197 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time that Lindholm and Pastrnak have skated collectively. When Lindholm has performed alongside Brad Marchand, the Bruins are solely outscoring opponents 18-16 over 438 minutes of 5-on-5 reps.
Lindholm might not be a web unfavorable, however he’s additionally removed from a play-driver — particularly at his price ticket.
Zadorov has been as marketed relating to his sandpaper type of play at occasions.
However his propensity for touchdown within the sin bin (a league-leading 115 penalty minutes) and occasional D-zone lapses have usually put his staff behind the eight-ball — with Boston’s personal scoring woes giving them little margin for error when these D-zone breakdowns finish with pucks crusing previous Swayman.
Embracing a retool this season might see Boston web future belongings by transferring pending UFAs like Trent Frederic and even captain Brad Marchand. Gamers with phrases like Brandon Carlo or Charlie Coyle may additionally be coveted by opposing groups.
However transferring gamers like Lindholm and Zadorov — contemporary off of inking these hefty contracts — looks like a futile train.
A possible retool may come at time for the Bruins, on condition that the NHL’s wage cap is reportedly set to spike within the subsequent few years. In accordance with The Athletic, the league’s $88 million cap ceiling is anticipated to rise to $95.5 million in 2025-26 — and probably $113.5 million by 2027-28.
With long-term offers involving franchise fixtures like Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy primed to age nicely transferring ahead, the Bruins ought to have the means to aggressively add extra expertise within the coming years to complement that core.
However orchestrating a profitable retool by way of a free-agent spending spree presents up its fair proportion of dangers.
The Bruins don’t must look again very far to heed these onerous truths.
Boston.com Immediately
Signal as much as obtain the newest headlines in your inbox every morning.
