Bruins

Report: Canucks could flip Elias Lindholm to Bruins as part of blockbuster deal

Elias Lindholm could be on the move after playing just 14 games with the Canucks.

Elias Lindholm could be on the move after playing just 14 games with the Canucks. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

March 5, 2024

2 minutes to read

Could the Boston Bruins find themselves back in the Elias Lindholm sweepstakes?

Any rumors of Boston’s pursuit of the two-way center dissipated in short order after the Flames traded the pivot to the Vancouver Canucks on January 31.

But with the Canucks potentially in the market for another impact forward before the March 8 trade deadline, Lindholm could find himself dangled back on the open market before the end of the week.

According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, the Canucks are among the teams in hot pursuit of Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, who is expected to be dealt before the deadline passes.

In order to facilitate such a deal, Johnston added that Vancouver has “had discussions about potentially flipping Elias Lindholm to the Bruins as part of the machinations to make it happen.”

Johnston did note that there are still “lots of moving parts” when it comes to such a complicated transaction, with “nothing concrete in place at this time.”

With the #canucks believed to be among those pursuing Jake Guentzel, word is they've had discussions about potentially flipping Elias Lindholm to the #bruins as part of the machinations to make it happen.

Nothing concrete in place at this time. Still lots of moving parts.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 5, 2024

Still, such a move would give Boston a considerable boost in its top-six unit ahead of the playoffs — with Lindholm capable of driving play in a featured role while also adding some much-needed faceoff proficiency and defensive fortitude to the roster.

Lindholm has surpassed the 60-point threshold three times in his career, including a career-best 82 points during the 2021-22 season. The 29-year-old pivot finished second in voting for the 2021-22 Selke Trophy behind Patrice Bergeron, leading Calgary in blocked shots (52) and takeaways (55).

And given Boston’s woes when it comes to winning faceoffs at critical junctures of games this season, Lindholm (56.0% faceoff percentage in 2023-24, 53.4% for his career) would serve as a much-needed antidote to that area of the game.

Vancouver paid a steep price to pry Lindholm out of Calgary earlier this winter — relinquishing forward Andrei Kuzmenko, two prospects, and a first and conditional fourth-round picks in the 2024 draft.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported shortly after that deal went down that Boston was one of the teams interested in acquiring Lindholm, but couldn’t meet the Flames’ steep asking price.

But with Vancouver needing to clear out cap space in order to try and add Guentzel, the cost for Lindholm this time around might be more palatable.

Lindholm’s tenure so far with the Canucks has been underwhelming. He hasn’t scored in his last nine games with Vancouver, with the Swedish forward scoring six points (four goals, two assists) in 14 total games with his new team.

Lindholm is set to hit free agency this summer and is due for a solid pay raise from his current cap hit of $4.85 million. If the Bruins are willing to pay that price tag, he could anchor the middle of Boston’s forward corps for the next few years alongside Charlie Coyle.