On Monday, Vinny Lettieri and Oliver Wahlstrom were center Elias Lindholm’s linemates as the Boston Bruins defeated the San Jose Sharks 6-3 at TD Garden. Wahlstrom, who was claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders on December 14, was a healthy scratch for the Bruins’ two previous games. Lettieri was just recently promoted from the American Hockey League’s Providence as he makes his second tour of duty with the Bruins organization.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the newly-formed line recorded a 61.11 Corsi For rating in just under 11 minutes of ice time together. Lindholm was demoted to the third line after spending much of the season on the team’s first and second lines, mostly with Brad Marchand on his left wing. The former Vancouver Canuck has been mostly as advertised as a defensive stalwart with good faceoff skills. However, offensively Lindholm has not been able to find the magic touch that made him an 82-point producer during the 2021-22 season with Calgary.
The Bruins needed more when they signed Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract on July 1. General Manager Don Sweeney stated that Lindholm had some similarities in his game to Patrice Bergeron. The 30-year-old center began the year with David Pastrnak on the wing, but that tandem could not find their game together. Lindholm’s time on the second line with Marchand has been better at times, but the production still isn’t there consistently.
The Bruins’ greatest need is a playmaking center. 20-year-old Matt Poitras has the skill set to fill some of that void but is still learning the NHL game. Boston is loaded with “centers,” but many of them have the same qualities. Without a true number-one center in free agency in the offseason, the Bruins opted for the next best thing. Unfortunately, it has resulted in a $7.75 million third-line center.
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