Boston, MA

Weighing the pros and cons of an Elias Lindholm trade for Bruins

Published

1 year ago

December 21, 2023

Press Room

Bruins

Elias Lindholm will be a coveted trade target thanks to his two-way game.

Elias Lindholm has surpassed the 60-point threshold three times in his career. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

COMMENTARY

The Boston Bruins sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 19-5-6 record.

But, looking past an elite goaltending unit and some potent offensive conduits like David Pastrnak, there are plenty of areas of improvement for Jim Montgomery’s roster.

As expected, Boston’s scoring punch has lessened following several critical offseason departures. Boston is currently 16th in the NHL in goals per game (3.17). An eighth-ranked power play (24.5%) has kept them afloat, but their 61 5-on-5 goals rank 22nd in the league.

Boston might rank third in the league in goals against per game (2.57), but a hefty portion of that credit falls on the play in net, along with a stout penalty kill (87.5%).

So far this season, the Bruins have been knocked for giving up far too many quality looks, with the team 17th in the league in high-danger chances allowed per 60 minutes at 5v5 play (11.21). They have lost six games this season when leading after two periods of play.

It remains to be seen if Don Sweeney and the Bruins have the means to assert themselves as buyers once again at the trade deadline. But if they do, Boston could kill two birds with one stone with a stout two-way center like Elias Lindholm.

With the 13-14-5 Flames once again struggling in the Pacific Division and the 29-year-old Lindholm set to hit free agency this summer, the writing is on the wall that Calgary will move to pivot in the months ahead.

Boston, like most teams, would welcome the opportunity to add a defensively responsible centerman like Lindholm. But just how realistic is such a deal this season?

Let’s look at the pros and cons of Boston pulling off said trade:

PRO: Lindholm would solve several flaws in Boston, in 2023 and beyond

All things considered, the Bruins should be pleased with how their center grouping has fared since the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

Both Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha are on pace for career-highs in scoring, while 19-year-old rookie Matt Poitras has showcased his high ceiling in his first foray against NHL competition.

Johnny Beecher could be penciled in as Boston’s 4C for the foreseeable future thanks to his speed and strong faceoff numbers as a rookie.

But adding a player like Lindholm in 2023 — and presumably, signing him to a long-term extension — gives Boston a proven top-six, all-situations stalwart whose presence should create a positive domino effect further down the lineup.

Lindholm has surpassed the 60-point threshold three times in his career, including a career-best 82 points during the 2021-22 season.

His impact at 5v5 play would offer a considerable boost to Boston. Over the past three seasons, there have been 793 NHLers who have logged at least 500 minutes of 5v5 ice time. Lindholm ranks 55th in that pool in 5v5 points per 60 minutes at 2.23, just two spots below Bergeron (2.25).

With Lindholm in the top-six unit, Boston has the option of slotting Coyle back down to 3C — where a line with him, Trent Frederic, and James van Riemsdyk could dole out plenty of damage. The Bruins could also ease Poitras’ workload and shift him to the wing, or even move Zacha over to the wing opposite his fellow countryman in Pastrnak.

Lindholm’s defensive game would also be a welcome addition to a team whose defensive structure has seen far too many lapses. Lindholm finished second in voting for the 2021-22 Selke Trophy behind Bergeron, leading Calgary in blocked shots (52) and takeaways (55).

Lindholm’s two-way prowess would fit in well for a Boston roster whose identity is built around a stingy and layered defense. His strong showing at faceoffs (55.2% this season, 53.2% for his career) would also make a major difference on a Bruins team that has needed a critical faceoff win in the closing minutes of many one-goal games.

Even if the Bruins don’t have the means to pull off a trade for Lindholm in the next few months, his strong play down both ends of the ice paints the picture of a player that meshes perfectly in Boston — and could prompt the Bruins to throw a hefty contract his way in free agency (if he actually goes to market).

CON: Boston may not have the assets to get a deal done

The Bruins have relinquished plenty of draft capital over the years in an effort to put a Bergeron-led roster over the top.

Boston has only submitted a first-round selection twice in the last six years. They won’t have a first-rounder in 2024. Beyond that, the Bruins won’t officially be on the clock in the 2024 NHL Draft until the fourth round.

Of course, if the cost of acquiring a top-six center for 2023 (and conceivably, the future) is another first-rounder and a few prospects, Sweeney might bite.

But the issue for Boston isn’t exactly the draft capital, as tough as it might be to continue to decimate an already laboring pipeline.

Beyond moving another first-round pick or a prospect such as Mason Lohrei or Georgii Merkulov, the Bruins would have to move another NHL contract or two off their books to accommodate the cap hit from Lindholm (and frankly, from any player they acquire this season).

Even though Lindholm’s cap hit in the final year of his deal is far from outrageous ($4.85 million), Boston has little leeway when it comes to its fiscal situation. According to CapFriendly, Boston has just $59,266 in cap room as of Thursday afternoon. Yikes.

In any trade this season, the Bruins are going to have to subtract from their NHL roster to do so.

And while some fans may not have any qualms about moving a player like Jake DeBrusk or Matt Grzelcyk to facilitate a deal, one has to wonder if a rebuilding team like Calgary even wants to add players in their late 20s who are set to hit free agency this summer.

If push comes to shove, the Bruins do have some assets they could part with for the right price. It just remains to be seen if the Flames are the type of team to covet what Boston is actually dangling out on the trade market.

CON: Boston could just wait in free agency…

Given their cap constraints and largely barren prospect cupboard, the Bruins aren’t exactly primed to be buyers at the deadline.

The offseason, however, is a different story.

With the NHL’s cap ceiling set to jump up $4.2 million to $87.7 million next season, the Bruins should be in line to capitalize this summer, especially with so many franchise fixtures like Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and others already signed long-term.

Per CapFriendly, the Bruins are expected to have $26.7 million in cap space this offseason, with their free agents being Jeremy Swayman, DeBrusk, Grzelcyk, Derek Forbort, Danton Heinen, James van Riemsdyk, and Kevin Shattenkirk.

Odds are Boston isn’t planning on retaining all of those players anyway. And even if Boston hands out a nice payday to Swayman, it should have plenty of money left over this summer.

By 2025-26, the NHL salary cap ceiling could jump ahead to as much as $92 million, giving Boston even more breathing room.

Rather than give up draft picks and several assets to try and get Lindholm now, Boston could just play the waiting game and hope Lindholm goes to market.

Considering how much money Boston has available, don’t be surprised to see them linked to players like Lindholm, or even a local product on the blue line like Noah Hanifin.

PRO: …But a trade would guarantee Lindholm’s arrival

Yes, the Bruins can just roll the dice and try to sign Lindholm in free agency.

But there’s no guarantee Lindholm will be available in a potential bidding war in early July.

After losing Johnny Gaudreau for nothing in free agency in 2022, the Flames likely aren’t going to let Lindholm hit the open market this summer. Unless Lindholm re-ups in Calgary before the deadline, it’s all but a given that the Flames will ship him elsewhere and get a solid return back.

And if Lindholm lands elsewhere in February or March, whichever team thaat picks him up will have the inside edge as far as signing him to a long-term deal.

And while there are instances of teams adding players in their prime at the deadline and not inking them to extensions (see: Bertuzzi, Tyler), it’s usually an outlier scenario.

If the Bruins are dead-set on adding a player like Lindholm, they might need to strike now, considering that the odds aren’t exactly in their favor that he’ll be up for grabs this summer.

Of course, the Bruins do have other contingency plans. All of that fiscal flexibility in the coming years could allow them to take on a heftier contract like Tomas Hertl’s (signed through 2029-30 at $8.137 million per year), for example.

But if Boston is honing in on a player like Lindholm, the franchise’s best bet at putting him in a black-and-gold sweater likely involves a mid-season trade.

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Boston, MA

Watch New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics free live stream

Published

13 minutes ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Watch New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics free live stream

There is NBA action on Sunday, Jan. 12 that sees the Boston Celtics welcoming the New Orleans Pelicans to TD Garden in Boston.

The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Boston. Fans looking to watch this NBA game can do so for free by using DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial. You can also watch on FuboTV, which also offers a free trial and $30 off your first month, or SlingTV, which doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available.

The Celtics have lost two of their last three and are 11-8 since the start of December, and now sit at 27-11, still the second-best mark in the East. The Pelicans are 8-31, but have won three of their last five.

WATCH THE GAME FOR FREE HERE

Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics

When: Sunday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. EST

Where: TD Garden in Boston

Stream: FuboTV; Sling; DirecTV Stream (free trial)

Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.

What is FuboTV?

FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial and $30 off the first month for new customers.

What is DirecTV Stream?

DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.

What is SlingTV?

SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.

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An NBA 1st: Jokic, Westbrook record triple-doubles in same game for 2nd time this season

By MICHAEL KELLY Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook made NBA history on Friday night, becoming the first pair of teammates to record a triple-double in the same game multiple times in a single season.

Jokic finished with 35 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds for his NBA-leading 15th triple-double of the season in the Nuggets’ 124-105 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Westbrook had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

“I think it’s that’s the style both of us play,” Jokic said. “I’m just glad we’re winning the games because that’s more important than the stats. It’s special, the relationship, how the guys are willing to run the lanes and get to the corner. They know the ball’s going to find them.”

They’re also the first to record a 25-point triple-double in the same regular-season game.

“Wow. That’s pretty crazy. We’re watching history, folks,” Denver coach Michael Malone said.

The pair also accomplished the feat at Utah on Dec. 30. Jokic had 36 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists that night while Westbrook had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Westbrook made all seven of his shot attempts, both free throw attempts and didn’t have a turnover in that game.

Westbrook credited Malone with giving him the freedom to play his game.

“Being able to do that allows me to be able to make guys around me better,” Westbrook said Friday. “Try to bring this team some leadership, some energy, some toughness. We’re just getting started on figuring it out.”

Jokic had missed the previous two games with an illness before returning against the Nets. He went to the bench late in the third quarter one rebound shy of his 145th career triple-double and the Nuggets leading by 18.

Brooklyn rallied to get within five and Jokic returned and had nine points, four assists and three rebounds in the fourth.

Jokic got his 10th rebound after Westbrook blocked Keon Johnson’s shot with 6:51 left.

Westbrook had four assists in the fourth to record his 202nd career triple-double, which is the most in an NBA career. It was his third triple-double this season, his first in Denver.

Westbrook signed with the Nuggets last summer after spending the last three seasons in Los Angeles with both the Lakers and the Clippers.

The Associated Press contributed to this article

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Boston, MA

Maguire & Caldarone: Bilingual education a must for BPS students

Published

12 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Maguire & Caldarone: Bilingual education a must for BPS students

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) enroll students from 139 different countries who speak 66 different languages at home. Roughly one-third of BPS students are classified as Multilingual Learners or English Language Learners (ELs), which means they are not fluent in English and need their instruction augmented in some way.

It’s the “in some way” which is the topic of intense debate both locally and nationally. The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) wants to change the way the BPS teaches EL students. The BTU wants the BPS to end its current practice of having a general education teacher also deliver English language instruction. President-elect Donald Trump recently told Time magazine that he wants to keep only some of the Department of Education operational “just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools.”

In an effort to help ELs, the BPS recently announced the creation of new dual language programming for the ‘25-’26 school year. At first only 200 students will be served but expansions are planned. These programs range from “newcomers” who do not speak any or only very limited English, to advanced programs in high school where students are eligible to receive the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation.

All of these approaches only nibble around the edge of the issue, and even if these programs are faithfully implemented the core issue remains unchanged: American students are at a disadvantage globally if they remain monolingual.

Finland, often hailed as the world exemplar of public education, requires its students to learn four languages by the time they graduate secondary school. Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. Whatever language a student speaks at home, that student learns the other official language in school. The goal is to have all Finns able to speak to one another in order both to build a national community and to make commerce easier. Then Finns learn two more languages (one of which is usually English).

Over 43 million people in the United States speak Spanish at home (13% of the population). In Boston,16% of the population speaks Spanish. So let’s follow the Finnish model and have all our students – and citizens – understand one another.

Boston already has a few dual-language programs in not only Spanish but also in Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, and American Sign Language. What if Boston simply expanded these programs so that all students in the BPS became proficient in at least two languages?

If this were to happen, then Boston graduates would be in high demand. A 2023 report by The Century Foundation states that bilingual students have better problem-solving skills and improved working memory due to their more active neural networks as a result of their learning two (or more) languages.

There are other benefits of bilingualism such as better social-emotional development and even a potential delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (again due to expanded neural pathways).

Practically speaking, bilingual employees can earn up to 20% more than their monolingual counterparts. Workforce Essentials reported in 2023 that US businesses lose roughly $2 billion annually due to language barriers and cultural misunderstandings. Undeniably our world is becoming more interconnected. BPS graduates who are multilingual would have a great advantage in both college and career.

Boston is already moving in the direction of increased multilingual instruction. In the Dec. 18, 2024 School Committee meeting, BPS interim CFO David Bloom gave a report which stated that over the past year the general education population in the BPS decreased by 22% whereas the number of ELs increased by 11%. Simply put, Boston has to increase its multilingual instruction anyway. Why not go all in?

There are two frequent arguments against bilingual education. One is xenophobia and the other is parsimony. For a “nation of immigrants” it is illogical for us to fear our neighbors’ words and cultures. As for the cost, let us beware of the “bait and switch” of vouchers or school choice.

It is also important to also note that many private/independent schools offer language instruction from Grade 1 through Grade 12. They know that doing so will make their graduates more competitive in college and beyond.

There is no denying that Boston needs to do better by its students. If we continue the current model we will likely continue with the current results. An expansive bilingual program would both improve our students’ lives and attract more families to the district.

Finally we could also help our students and families by having our teachers learn Spanish and/or other languages in their professional development sessions. We can all learn from each other.

Para los estudiantes de hoy, la educación bilingüe es esencial para la universidad, la carrera y nuestra sociedad global. Creemos que todos los estudiantes deberían tener la misma oportunidad de aprender otros idiomas.

(Michael Maguire teaches Latin and Ancient Greek at Boston Latin Academy and serves on the Executive Board of the Boston Teachers Union. Julie Caldarone is the retired Director of World Languages for Boston Public Schools. She currently co-teaches a course entitled, “Spanish for BPS Educators.” The ideas expressed here are their own.)

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Boston, MA

Red Sox Icon David Ortiz Urges Boston To ‘Make It Rain’ For Free-Agent Slugger

Published

19 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Red Sox Icon David Ortiz Urges Boston To ‘Make It Rain’ For Free-Agent Slugger

The Boston Red Sox hive mind doesn’t always come to a perfect agreement on what they want the team to do. That is, of course, unless David Ortiz is asking for it.

A three-time World Series champion, Hall of Famer, and one of the most clutch players of all time, Ortiz is unquestionably on the Red Sox’s all-time Mount Rushmore. Even though he retired in 2016, he’s still closely woven into the fabric of the organization.

Ortiz sees what we all do: this Red Sox team is close to being ready to contend for the playoffs, but there’s one key ingredient missing. He made his feelings known about what he hopes the front office does between now and Opening Day to address that issue.

On Saturday, Ortiz relayed a simple message to the Red Sox: spend whatever it takes to get one more big bat.

“There’s still some guys out there that we can still go for, and I think we have a really good front office,” Ortiz said in an appearance on NESN. “To put a good lineup together nowadays is not that difficult. What you got to do is just make it rain, and you can go pick a few guys. Now pitching, on the other hand, is the toughest thing to put together.

“We got pitching. Pitching can always stop good offenses. The playoff is a playoff pitching (staff) we got right now. We line up a couple of thunders in the lineup to help (Rafael Devers) and the rest of them boys — one good bat would do.”

Ortiz and NESN host Tom Caron both strongly hinted at the end of the interview who that big bat could be: former Houston Astros All-Star Alex Bregman. Manager Alex Cora also signaled earlier in the day that Bregman would be a great fit in Boston.

Bregman isn’t quite Ortiz, but he does have one thing on him: the career record for OPS at Fenway Park. He has a wild 1.245 mark in 98 plate appearances in Boston throughout his career.

When David Ortiz asks for something, the Red Sox would usually be wise to follow through. And it seems he wants Bregman. Will that move the needle in the suites at Fenway?

More MLB: Red Sox Predicted To Land Ex-Padres $28 Million Gold Glover In Free Agency Surprise

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