Bruins’ Big Signing Brutally Honest About Start To Boston Career

If and when the Bruins come out of the rut that has marred the start of their season, Elias Lindholm will be a big reason why. He almost has to.

Boston signed the two-way center to a seven-year, $54.25 million deal as soon as NHL free agency began in July. The plan was for Lindholm to become the next in the Bruins’ lineage of down-the-middle domination. It hasn’t worked out that way, at least not yet.

The Bruins went 8-8-3 through the first 19 games of the season, and Lindholm hasn’t yet made a significant impact. Entering Monday’s game against Columbus, Lindholm had just two goals and seven assists despite averaging 18 minutes per night and playing in every game thus far.

Lindholm is unsurprisingly frustrated with the start of his Bruins tenure.

“I just have to be more involved,” Lindholm told reporters Sunday, according to The Athletic. “For 60 minutes, I’m not doing too much out there. Just skating up and down the ice. Got to be more involved and want the puck more.”

Credit to Lindholm for the honest self-awareness, but it’s also slightly puzzling as to how it has gotten to this point this early.

A big reason for the early struggles stems from a perplexing lack of production between Lindholm and David Pastrnak. Lindholm is just two seasons removed from a 42-assist season with Calgary where he thrived alongside Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau. Pastrnak, who notched at least 110 points in each of his last two seasons, should have fit that role quite nicely on Lindholm’s side.

That didn’t work, though, and Bruins coach Jim Montgomery broke up the pair, moving Lindholm to a line with Justin Brazeau and Brad Marchand.

Lindholm also shouldered the blame for not creating more for his linemates, regardless of who was riding shotgun with him.

“It’s hard for them when your center that’s supposed to drive a line is not playing good enough,” Lindholm added, per The Athletic. “As long as I’m not getting better, it’s kind of hard for them.”

Montgomery wondered whether a change of scenery amid major life changes — the Lindholms welcomed a new baby just before the season — contributed to the early bumps in the roads.

That could be the case. Regardless of the reason, the Bruins will need Lindholm operating at a higher level if they’re going to dig out of his hole.