Bruins Aim to Revitalize Power Play with Elias Lindholm’s Arrival

The Boston Bruins’ power play was a key factor in their downfall last season, as they struggled to capitalize with the man advantage. Over a six-game series against the Florida Panthers, the Bruins went just 1-for-16 on the power play, contributing to their early exit against the eventual Stanley Cup champions. While much of the offseason chatter revolved around Jeremy Swayman’s contract, the Bruins also made significant moves to bolster their roster, with hopes of jump-starting their power play—a weakness general manager Don Sweeney acknowledged late in the season.

One of the Bruins’ biggest offseason acquisitions was Elias Lindholm, signed to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract. Head coach Jim Montgomery believes Lindholm can make a major impact, particularly on faceoffs, which could lead to better puck possession in the offensive zone.

“With Lindholm, I think we’ll see more time in the offensive zone right away, just by winning faceoffs,” Montgomery said on Wednesday. “Watching him during the summer, he was able to beat high-end centers like [Leon] Draisaitl and [Ryan] O’Reilly on big draws in the playoffs. That got us excited about what he brings to the power play.”

Lindholm boasts a 53.5% faceoff win rate throughout his career, placing him among the league’s elite, alongside Sidney Crosby, Anze Kopitar, Bo Horvat, Draisaitl, and Jordan Staal. His 59.1% success rate on power-play faceoffs since 2020 gives the Bruins hope of improving in an area where they slipped to 13th last season after leading the league the year before—due in part to the retirement of Patrice Bergeron and the departure of David Krejci.

The Bruins are counting on Lindholm to regain his previous power-play prowess. In 2018-19, Lindholm recorded 26 power-play points, and as recently as two seasons ago, he tallied 21 points with the man advantage.

Montgomery is optimistic about the versatility Lindholm adds to their offensive strategies. “He gives us more options on power-play entries and in the zone, which makes us harder to defend against,” Montgomery noted. “If you leave him alone, he’s going to score. So teams will have to account for him, and that opens up opportunities for the rest of our guys. Our power play will have a lot more killer instinct now.”

While Lindholm may not be the most offensively skilled player on the Bruins or in the league, his ability to drive play in all three zones will be crucial. Surrounded by stars like David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy, Lindholm could be the missing piece that revitalizes Boston’s power play for the upcoming season.