Even before NHL free agency began this year, the Boston Bruins had their eyes set on two candidates.
The Bruins announced shortly after noon on July 1 that they had agreed to terms with center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov, filling two important needs early on.
“We checked off a lot of boxes with two key components,” stated Bruins general manager Don Sweeney after the signings. “We feel they will internally increase our competition.”
Looking at the contract figures alone reveals how keen the Bruins were in acquiring Lindholm and Zadorov.
Lindholm will make $54.25 million over the next seven years as Boston’s top centerman. While his deal is the greatest free-agent contract in Bruins history, it is also two years longer and approximately $20 million more than AFP Analytics predicted he would sign this offseason. Zadorov was likewise well compensated, agreeing to a six-year contract worth $30 million, which was one year longer but slightly less than expected.
Sweeney’s contracts represent a significant investment, but only time will tell if they are worthwhile. On the one hand, the Bruins needed to sign a front-line center and add some bulk to their back end this summer. However, Lindholm and Zadorov are also approaching the age of 30 and coming off subpar seasons last season.
However, while all general managers are judged based on the decisions they make, the ones they do not are given equal weight.
Although the Bruins selected Lindholm and Zadorov early on, they were not the only players available this summer who met their requirements; similar players signed elsewhere.
Aside from Lindholm, the Bruins were interested in two other centers of equal age, ability, and career performance: Sean Monahan and Chandler Stephenson.
Monahan and Lindholm were selected first and second in the 2013 draft, but neither has established himself as a true franchise player. Instead, both are solid second-line centers rather than true number ones like others in their draft class, such as Nathan MacKinnon or Aleksander Barkov.
Nonetheless, the two have similar skill sets as 200-foot skaters, with the ability to make plays and kill penalties. Lindholm, on the other hand, signed a significantly larger free agent contract than Monahan, who will join the Columbus Blue Jackets for five years and $27.5 million.
Monahan’s extensive injury history was probably a factor in his talks. Even so, his deal in Columbus is comparable to what he was anticipated to make on the free market.
Meanwhile, Stephenson, like Lindholm, agreed to a seven-year contract. He’ll make $43.75 million playing for the Seattle Krake, a two-year extension and roughly $16 million more than he was expected to receive.
Nonetheless, the two have similar skill sets as 200-foot skaters, with the ability to make plays and kill penalties. Lindholm, on the other hand, signed a significantly larger free agent contract than Monahan, who will join the Columbus Blue Jackets for five years and $27.5 million.
Monahan’s extensive injury history was probably a factor in his talks. Even so, his deal in Columbus is comparable to what he was anticipated to make on the free market.
Meanwhile, Stephenson, like Lindholm, agreed to a seven-year contract. He’ll make $43.75 million playing for the Seattle Krake, a two-year extension and roughly $16 million more than he was expected to receive.
The Bruins needed more size and physicality on the back end, and Zadorov was the perfect fit. However, they could have had a much cheaper option if they had pursued Brenden Dillon, who will play for the New Jersey Devils for the next three years and earns $12 million. On the other end of the scale, the Bruins could have landed Brady Skjei if they had offered him the seven-year, $49 million contract he received from the Nashville Predators.
Although Dillon is substantially cheaper and Skjei has greater offensive upside, Zadorov strikes a solid balance by meeting the Bruins’ needs without forcing them to choose between on-ice skill and budgetary freedom.
“The presence that [Zadorov] brings is important to us,” Sweeney told the crowd. “Playing a lot of top-four minutes in the playoffs against top guys, he comes with a bit of swagger, he has certainly seen his game grow and probably get a little more defined in terms of what he’s capable of doing.”
After adding Lindhom, Zadorov, and numerous other players this offseason, the Bruins are expected to have $8.36 million in remaining cap space, according to Puckpedia.
With Jeremy Swayman still looking for a new deal, the Bruins have little to work with, but it may be enough.
