Given the injuries in the line-up; Par Lindholm has seen an early elevation in his role as a member of the Boston Bruins roster.
After being added at free agency, Boston Bruins fans, I don’t think’ expected much out of Par Lindholm, who’d arrived with the Toronto Maple Leafs the previous season before ending the year as a Winnipeg Jets player.
However, he has shone himself as a good value proposition down the line-up, given the injuries to Joakim Nordstrom, Karson Kuhlman and David Krejci already this year. In fact, in 80 minutes of ice-time across 7 appearances this year, he’s yet to be on the ice for a goal against.
He’s shown an ability to slot in alongside whomever Bruce Cassidy needs him to play with; whether that be with on the opposite wing of Chris Wagner and Sean Kuraly or slightly higher in the line-up with Danton Heinen, Karson Kuhlman or since the latter’s injury, Anders Bjork.
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Additionally, he’s had a great deal of trust placed in him by the Boston Bruins’ coaching staff, picking up regular ice-time on the penalty-kill in recent games. His first two games this season, he only saw 01:06 and 01:13 respectively; his last two games, it’s been 01:39 and 02:02.
While we know he had strong numbers in Europe when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net, we’ve not seen Par Lindholm, the goalscorer, in the National Hockey League yet and we’re happy to deal with that.
Right now, he’s carved out a great niche in this Boston Bruins’ line-up as someone that slots in at center or on the wing, doesn’t make any bone-headed mistakes, seemingly doesn’t allow anyone to score while he’s out there and on top of all that, kills penalties.
At a cost of just $850,000 annually for not just this season, but also next, Par Lindholm offers the Boston Bruins tremendous value as a roster depth player. Exactly the type of player they needed to replace Noel Acciari when he left for Florida this summer.
He may play a different game to Acciari, but he fulfils the role of depth player equally as well, if not better. If he ever re-discovers his touch from the SHL, where he put up 47 points in 49 games for Skellefteå AIK, we’ll be laughing all the way to the bank!
When he signed this summer, none of us batted an eyelid. His play this year, I think the same can be said. But that is exactly what makes Par Lindholm such a good pick-up, he’s unnoticeable wherever the Boston Bruins slot him in.