The outcome is clear on Elias Lindholm's contract: Canucks avoided a setback
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Sports Illustrated considers Elias Lindholm's agreement with the Boston Bruins one of the poorest moves of the free agency period.
The Vancouver Canucks saw a significant loss in early free agency last week when Elias Lindholm agreed to a seven-year contract with the Boston Bruins, worth $7.75 million annually until the end of the 2030-31 season.
Boston's commitment to Elias Lindholm reflects a hefty investment, but he fulfills their need for a top-six centerman. During each free agency period, teams often allocate substantial funds, sometimes overpaying to address specific needs, potentially illustrated here by the Bruins' deal with Lindholm.
Jacob Punturi recently highlighted the top three most questionable contracts in free agency for Sports Illustrated, ranking Elias Lindholm's $54.25 million deal with Boston second on his list.
Punturi argues that this deal exemplifies overpaying to fill a specific gap, considering Lindholm's limited track record with only two seasons of 70 or more points. He contends that the Bruins are compensating Lindholm at a level akin to Patrice Bergeron, despite Lindholm typically scoring around 50 points per season.
"This is another example of overpaying for a need. The Boston Bruins need a number-one center, and identified Elias Lindholm as the solution. They attempted to trade for him this past season, but couldn't finalize a deal. They only had to wait a few more months to sign him to a massive extension.
The Bruins signed Lindholm to a seven-year deal with an AAV of $7.75 million. It's a huge commitment for a player with just two seasons of 70 points or more over 11 NHL seasons. He's historically a 50-point player, and the Bruins are paying him like he is Patrice Bergeron.
Lindholm will improve the Bruins, that isn't up for debate. He may even reach the 70-point mark again, but there's a far better chance that he underperforms for the next seven seasons, and the Bruins will still need a number-one center."
The Bruins signed Lindholm to a seven-year deal with an AAV of $7.75 million. It's a huge commitment for a player with just two seasons of 70 points or more over 11 NHL seasons. He's historically a 50-point player, and the Bruins are paying him like he is Patrice Bergeron.
Lindholm will improve the Bruins, that isn't up for debate. He may even reach the 70-point mark again, but there's a far better chance that he underperforms for the next seven seasons, and the Bruins will still need a number-one center."
Lindholm, aged 29, faced challenges in the regular season with the Vancouver Canucks following his January trade from the Calgary Flames. In 26 games, he accumulated 12 points, but he notably performed well in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording ten points in 13 games.
Predicting how Elias Lindholm's contract will age is premature. While he currently addresses an immediate team need, questions linger about his performance in the latter years (five, six, and seven) of this deal. It remains uncertain whether he will maintain his status as a top-six forward over time.
Do you believe the Boston Bruins paid too much for Elias Lindholm? Share your thoughts in the poll below!
Source: Canucks Daily
The verdict is in regarding Elias Lindholm's contract: Canucks dodged a bullet
The verdict is in regarding Elias Lindholm's contract: Canucks dodged a bullet
| POLL | ||
11 JUILLET | 179 ANSWERS The outcome is clear on Elias Lindholm's contract: Canucks avoided a setback Do you believe the Boston Bruins paid too much for Elias Lindholm? | ||
| Yes | 144 | 80.4 % |
| No | 35 | 19.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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