Why the Bruins might stand pat at center, even if it's a position of need

New York Times

22-04-2025

Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci have been gone for two years. Charlie Coyle plays for the Colorado Avalanche. Matt Poitras (21 years old) and Fraser Minten (20) are far from assured spots on the 2025-26 Boston Bruins roster.
The Bruins need help at center in a big way.
But they know firsthand how pricey it is to hire in the middle. On July 1, 2024, they spent $54.25 million to guarantee seven years of service from Elias Lindholm. They did so with the belief that Lindholm would be a No. 1 center at the start of his contract.
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In 2021-22, Lindholm set a career high of 3.01 points per 60 minutes of all-situations play, per Natural Stat Trick. As a first-year Bruin, Lindholm averaged 1.9 per 60. Leon Draisaitl, in comparison, led all regular centers in 2024-25 with 4.16.
The trade market is just as expensive. Consider that the Vegas Golden Knights gave up Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-rounder for Jack Eichel. They did so without any certainty that Eichel would be 100 percent following neck surgery.
You can see, then, why upgrading the position would be a high-priced project. If Sam Bennett, for example, reaches unrestricted free agency, the Bruins would be competing with multiple bidders for the hard-nosed 28-year-old center. If the New York Rangers put Mika Zibanejad up for sale, the Bruins would have to determine how much in futures they'd be willing to spend for him and whether Zibanejad would waive his no-movement protection, not to mention if the 32-year-old who's gone from 91 to 72 to 62 points the past three seasons is even worth pursuing.
The more conservative alternative would be to invest in wings, either in free agency or on the trade market. As much as the Bruins would welcome reinforcements up the middle, they have internal workarounds for the position.
Lindholm, to start, can run with David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie on the No. 1 unit, even if he is no longer a first-line, play-driving pivot. Pastrnak can fill the role of playmaker (63 assists) as well as most centers. He is such a threat to score (43 goals) and clever enough with the puck that he can draw defenders his way and dish to open teammates. Geekie (33 goals) was the beneficiary in 2024-25. This could happen again in 2025-26.
Lindholm, in other words, does not have to be a typical playmaker if he rides with Pastrnak and Geekie. If he defends, wins faceoffs and goes to the net to open up east-west seams for his wings, Lindholm could be a first-line fixture.
'It gives those guys an opportunity to tilt a little more that way, knowing they still have security defensively,' interim coach Joe Sacco said of how Lindholm could optimize his wings for offense. 'Somebody who's going to play underneath pucks, somebody who's going to be reliable defensively for them. He got more confidence down the stretch there.'
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Offensively, Casey Mittelstadt would be the leading candidate to center the No. 2 line. He is the Bruins' top pure playmaker. He excels at extending puck control until the last moment to give his linemates maximum time to get open.
But Mittelstadt's role as a setup presence comes with a cost. The 26-year-old is not hard on pucks. He doesn't win enough battles. His passing touch is muted when he cannot possess the puck. Unless Mittelstadt broadens his shoulders, he may not fit a second-line profile.
'When he gets caught standing still in the offensive zone, making plays not on the move, sometimes things shut down for him,' Sacco said. 'I find him very effective when he's skating, when he's moving his feet and being hard on the puck. We talk about hard skill all the time in this organization. We have a lot of that. That's something he continues to grow into his game.'
This leaves Pavel Zacha as a second-line alternative. It's not an ideal solution. Zacha's value is as an all-around center, ideally slotted on the third line. He is not as skilled with the puck as Mittelstadt.
But Zacha's hockey sense, skating and strength on the puck make him a better transporter. Like Mittelstadt, Zacha is a pass-first center. He would have to incorporate more of a shooter's selfishness to optimize a second line.
So if Zacha locks down the second line and Mittelstadt works the third line, Mark Kastelic would be the most likely candidate to be the No. 4 center. Kastelic projects to be fully recovered from his concussion. The Bruins would not expect much offense from him. The 26-year-old is on the roster to skate, check and provide energy.
The Bruins also have Johnny Beecher under team control as a fourth-line option. He will be a restricted free agent this offseason. They need more from Beecher if they qualify the 24-year-old and give him a raise.
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If Poitras and Minten perform well in the AHL playoffs and get stronger in the summer, they could put themselves in position to nudge out an incumbent in camp.
By standing pat at center, the Bruins could keep their powder dry for help on the wing. Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers could have their pens ready to sign contracts on July 1. Matthew Knies and Will Cuylle, pending restricted free agents, would be offer-sheet targets if their clubs approach the salary cap.
As critical as centers are, the Bruins don't have many paths toward improving the position.