The Boston Bruins’ star free-agent signing, Elias Lindholm, was noticeably absent from Friday’s training camp practice. Lindholm, who joined the Bruins on a seven-year, $7.75 million per year contract, missed the second day of camp. According to Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, the reason for Lindholm’s absence was precautionary. He explained that Lindholm had some discomfort, though “sore” might not be the right word, and was instructed to take the day off for maintenance. Montgomery assured that the decision was simply a cautious measure.
Lindholm had been practicing as the first-line center alongside David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha on Thursday, his debut in a prominent role within the Bruins’ lineup. Pastrnak jokingly commented on Lindholm’s absence, saying that perhaps Lindholm wasn’t used to the “Czech pace” of play, referring to their teammate Zacha.
In Lindholm’s absence, Matt Poitras, who had practiced at right wing the day before, shifted back to his natural center position, taking Lindholm’s place between Pastrnak and Zacha. This lineup adjustment allowed the coaching staff to experiment with different player combinations during the early stages of training camp.
The 29-year-old Swedish forward arrives in Boston with high expectations, given his successful stints with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. Known for his well-rounded game, Lindholm has consistently performed as both a solid offensive and a highly capable defensive player. The Bruins are banking on him to help fill the void left by the retirement of long-time captain Patrice Bergeron, particularly in providing a strong two-way presence on the ice.
One of Lindholm’s standout strengths is his faceoff ability, having won 56.3% of his faceoffs in recent seasons. This skill will be crucial for Boston, as they look to shore up a key area that has been a concern since Bergeron’s departure.
In addition to his role with the Bruins, Lindholm is expected to represent Team Sweden in the upcoming NHL 4 Nations Face-Off in February, with three of the seven games scheduled to take place in Boston.
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