Boston Bruins sign Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov to multi-year contracts
An Original Six franchise has bolstered its lineup with a couple of key players.
On Monday, the Boston Bruins announced they have signed forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov to multi-year contracts. Both players come to New England after finishing the 2023-24 season with the Vancouver Canucks.
Lindholm is getting a big payday, agreeing to a seven-year contract. The deal will carry a $7.75 million AAV through the end of the 2030-31 season.
Seven year deal for Elias Lindholm in Boston with a $7.75 million dollar _AAV.
— Irfaan Gaffar (@irfgaffar) July 1, 2024Lindholm was the big midseason acquisition by the Canucks. Over the last few seasons, he earned the reputation as being a viable scoring asset with the Calgary Flames, scoring a career-high 42 goals and 82 points during the 2021-22 season. While his numbers took a dip in 2022-23, Vancouver went hard after the 30-year-old in January of this season. However, it didn’t quite pay off for the Canucks during the regular season, as Lindholm scored just six goals and 12 points in 26 games. In 75 games, he scored 15 goals and 44 points.
Lindholm’s game elevated in the playoffs, posting five goals and five assists in 13 games for Vancouver, ultimately getting eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round.
The former Carolina Hurricane has played in 818 NHL games, notching 218 goals and 339 assists, with 27 points in 40 playoff games.
Zadorov signed with the Bruins for six years with a $5 million cap hit through the 2029-30 campaign.
6 years $5 mill per for Zadorov in Boston.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2024Zadorov went to Vancouver after the Flames traded the Russian blueliner in November. The Canucks wanted the size and nastiness that Zadorov brings to the lineup. In 54 games in his new digs, the former Buffalo Sabre scored five goals and 14 points, registering a plus/minus of +6. In 75 regular-season games, Zadorov scored six goals and 15 assists with zero plus/minus. In 13 postseason appearances, he notched four goals and four assists with a +3 rating.
In 642 NHL games, which saw him also play with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, Zadorov has scored 47 goals and 99 assists, including 19 points in 58 playoff games.