Bruins free agency coverage: Boston reportedly lands Lindholm, Zadorov (2024)

Bruins

The Bruins have over $21 million in cap space entering free agency on Monday.

By Conor Ryan

July 1, 2024 | 10:52 AM

On May 22, Don Sweeney pledged that the Bruins would be “aggressive” this offseason in hopes of putting a talented NHL roster over the top.

On Thursday, he reaffirmed Boston’s plans to “attack” this free-agent market.

On Monday, we’ll see how far the Bruins plan on seeing through those offseason proclamations.

The NHL free-agency spending spree is set to begin on Monday at noon, with Boston in prime position to add an impact player or two on the open market.

According to CapFriendly, the Bruins are entering free agency with $21.6 million in cap space. Among teams who made the Stanley Cup Playoffs this fall, only the Carolina Hurricanes ($23.8 million) and Nashville Predators ($26.3 million) have more fiscal flexibility than Boston.

Granted, some of Boston’s cap space will need to be allocated toward Jeremy Swayman’s new contract.

But even with Swayman’s pay day adding $7-8 million on Boston’s books, the Bruins should be in a prime position to add some impact talent on Monday.

Here’s a look at some potential free-agent targets for Boston — headlined by Elias Lindholm.

Follow along for updates, instant reaction and more – and check back later in the evening for more reaction and analysis of Boston’s moves.

LIVE UPDATES:

3:40: The Bruins add some more depth on their blue line by signing Hanson native Billy Sweezey to a two-year, two-way deal. Might be more of a Providence pickup, but good value pickup who could be pressed into NHL reps if needed.

2:59: The forward market is drying up very quickly here, especially with Duclair now off the board. Still a few potential options for Boston, including: Alex Wennberg, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Jeff Skinner.

2:44: Zadorov on joining a market like Boston: “It’s probably the best sports city in the United States.” “It’s a city of winners. … They expect you to win every year. … I think it’s a perfect place for me and I’ll fit right in for me.”

2:42: Zadorov: “It was a no-brainer for me when I heard the Bruins were interested. … “I think Boston was at the top of my list my whole life.”

2:40: Nikita Zadorov checking in with us now.

2:18: Elias Lindholm said that he heard good things about Boston from Joakim Nordstrom. “I don’t think I’ve heard a bad thing about anything there. We’re pumped.”

2:15: Lindholm said he’s glad that he’s no longer playing against Charlie McAvoy. “He’s hit me a couple times pretty hard.”

2:12: Lindholm said he’s looking to bring a little bit of what Patrice Bergeron brought to the Bruins for years. (He stressed that he doesn’t want to compare himself to Bergeron.)

2:09: Lindholm on choosing Boston: “As soon as Boston came into the picture, it was easy for me.” … “Looking at their playoff series against Boston, they’re pretty much right there.”

2:08: Elias Lindholm is speaking to the media now.

1:49: Duclair to the Islanders. Would have liked him on the Bruins. A $3.5 million cap hit should have been doable for Boston.

1:42: Does seem like the Bruins were prioritizing size on the blue line.

1:29: Bruins add some depth with signing Max Jones.

Good size at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds. Scored 15 points over 52 games with the Ducks last season. Rochester, Michigan native was the 24th pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Have to imagine the Bruins are continuing to scour the market for more scoring punch. Anthony Duclair could be an affordable target who adds speed and 20+ goal potential.

1:20: Bruins make the Lindholm signing official.

1:13: Matt Grzelcyk heads to Pittsburgh, where he’ll try to raise his stock once again. Best of luck to the Charlestown native.

1:08: Bruins are banking on Lindholm’s 2023-24 season (44 points) being a blip on the radar. He may not be the 42-goal center he was with Calgary in 2021-22, but a season stapled to Pastrnak’s hip should help. Could push Zacha to wing or Coyle further down depth chart.

1:07: Yet another Bruin heading west to Vancouver in Danton Heinen. Good to see him get a nice pay raise after having to fight on a PTO deal last season.

12:55: Jonathan Drouin is sticking around in Colorado. Would have been a solid signing for the Bruins with DeBrusk heading west.

12:45: For a breakdown of the Lindholm/Zadorov signings, here’s our story on Boston.com.

12:29: Jake DeBrusk is heading west. $5.5 million is about what I was expecting, if not a bit below what I figured he’d land on the open market.

12:24: Bruins could have some $$$$ left over to add another scoring winger.

12:16: Forbort heading out west.

12:12: Lindholm reportedly signing for 7 years in Boston with a $7.75 million cap hit.

12:10: Nashville is indeed not messing around.

12:07: There it is.

12:04: There goes one Bruins free agent. Pat Maroon signs with Chicago on a one-year deal.

12:03: Stamkos is indeed leaving Tampa. Sure feels like he’s going to Nashville.

12:00: A big trade — with a rumored Bruins target leaving Ottawa.

11:48: Bruins linked to Jonathan Drouin — who revived his career last season in Colorado (56 points in 79 games). Some of that might have been a byproduct of steady top-six reps with the Avs’ high-powered stars. Still, would add some speed up front for Boston.

11:37: Another appealing target off the board for the Bruins. Would have been a lock for 25+ goals in Boston.

11:33: Man, Nashville is not messing around.

11:19: Florida losing one of its top puck-moving defensem*n.

11:16: Sure feels like both Lindholm and Zadorov are landing in Boston in a few hours.

11:10: Lindholm to Boston wouldn’t exactly be a surprise, but we’ll see what exactly a “hefty number” entails:

10:57: Will be very surreal to see Stamkos in another sweater next season if this goes down. Stamkos holds plenty of appealing to any team in need of scoring punch like Boston, but haven’t heard much of anything in terms of rumors linking the Bruins to the Bolts’ longtime captain.

Sure seems like Nashville is going to be a major player today:

10:50: Matt Grzelcyk going to Pittsburgh makes sense, especially with his former BU coach, David Quinn, now on the coaching staff:

10:35 a.m.: An interesting development up in Ottawa. Pinto is a 23-year-old center with legitimate top-six upside. Would have been ideal if these contract talks stalled before Boston sent Ullmark to Ottawa.

10:30 a.m.: A whole lot of free-agent targets are also flying off the board before free agency begins — especially on defense. Would have like Brenden Dillon or Alec Martinez as more affordable third-pairing options.

Add in both Guentzel (Tampa) and Sam Reinhart (Florida) signing ahead of free agency, and the Bruins’ options up front are already dwindling — at least in terms of top-six scorers.

10:20 a.m.: Greetings from Development Camp. The Bruins’ top prospects are on the ice now, but things will ramp up in a few hours once free agency begins.