Going into training camp, some questions surrounded head coach Marco Sturm and what he had planned for his lines. Over the summer, general manager Don Sweeney acquired wing JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth for two first-round draft picks.
More to go on where Peterka will fit, who was going to begin camp as the No. 1 center. A need is still there for a top-six center from outside the organization. Right now, the Black and Gold have Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, and Fraser Minten. So far (and remember, let's not read too much into lines in the first few days of training camp). So far, Sturm has put Lindholm between David Pastrnak and Peterka.
There are concerns that Bruins fans have with Lindholm centering the first line, and rightfully so. In his first two seasons in Boston, he has been dealing with a back injury, which has limited his production. However, to his credit, he has played through it.
After the Bruins were eliminated in the first round by the Buffalo Sabres last spring, Lindholm admitted that his back was an issue last season, but on Friday, according to Tom Calautti of Black N' Gold Productions LLC, Lindholm said that his back is "fine." If that's the case, then great. However, most Bruins fans will take a "I'll believe it when I see it,'' road.
Elias Lindholm drops positive injury update two days into training camp
Last week at the annual Boston Bruins Foundation Golf Tournament, Lindholm said, per Conor Ryan of the Boston Globe, that "It’s good. It’s good. It’s been obviously a couple of months off now, and feels good.” Boston is hoping that is the case.
Going into camp, Lindholm is someone who could fit anywhere on the roster from the first line to the third line. He is making $7.75 million a year, so there is no way that Sweeney is moving that contract, along with trade protection. Nobody is taking that off the Bruins hands, a forward making nearly $8 million with two years of back problems.
Pairing Lindholm with Pastrnak makes sense, but is it what it is going to be when camp breaks and the season begins? It wouldn't be surprising if it is, as that is something that feels inevitable. The Bruins are going to be facing a steep mountain in making a second straight postseason appearance, but if they are going to get there, then a healthy Lindholm is going to be key. So far, so good.
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