Elias Lindholm says his body feels ready. Whether that actually holds up is the real question hanging over Boston's season.
The Bruins center, entering his third year in Boston, addressed his health last week at the team's foundation golf tournament.
"It's been obviously a couple of months off now, and feels good," Lindholm said.
But when asked directly if his lingering back issues are truly behind him, Lindholm didn't sound fully convinced himself.
"I think it's kind of hard to know right now," Lindholm said. "It's been a good summer. I feel my body feels ready to go. So for now, it's good."
Lindholm posted 48 points in 69 games last season, a continued decline since signing a seven-year, $54,250,000 contract back in July 2024.
Boston finished 45-27-10 last season, eighth overall, under head coach Marco Sturm, and Lindholm's production hasn't matched the number attached to his deal.
Why Boston may have already lowered expectations
GM Don Sweeney has already signaled the organization might need to accept a smaller role from Lindholm going forward.
"It might be this is what his new level is, and you have to accept that," Sweeney said. "But it's not for lack of trying."
Lindholm's back injury first surfaced in August 2024, forcing him to miss most of camp that year. It resurfaced again last season, cutting short a strong start that had him on pace for a real bounce-back.
He posted 37 points in his first 44 games last season before the back flared up again, then managed just 11 points over his final 25 games after playing through it at the Olympics.
Pavel Zacha's emergence, with 65 points in 78 games last season, gives Boston real center depth that takes pressure off leaning on Lindholm to be a top-line fixture again.
Lindholm holds a no-movement clause, so a trade isn't realistic here. Boston's only real path forward is hoping he stays healthy long enough to be useful somewhere in the middle six.
That hope depends entirely on a back injury that hasn't cooperated in either of his first two seasons in Boston.
Will Elias Lindholm stay healthy for a full season with the Bruins?
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