How Hampus Lindholm Will Fortify Boston Bruins’ Blue Line

On a rebuilding team, stay-at-home defenders get the short end of the stick. Without much structural integrity to rely on, the core value they provide—keeping the puck out of their net—takes a serious blow because they’re essentially left to fend for themselves.

That has summed up Hampus Lindholm’s reality of late. The Anaheim Ducks haven’t reached the postseason since 2017-18, and this year’s roster is dotted with still-developing prospects and checked-out veterans. They aren’t ready to compete. Not being able to count on his teammates has yielded some unsightly numbers: Lindholm is conceding the highest expected goal rate of his career (2.70/60). For the first time in six seasons, the Ducks actually gave up fewer expected goals when he was on the bench.

Yeah…this hasn’t been a campaign to remember for Lindholm. But it could be. Despite those underwhelming metrics, when you assess his performance strictly on the basis of his individual play, the Swede remains a solid defender. The Boston Bruins clearly share that belief, as they acquired him (50% retained) and Kodie Curran on Saturday in exchange for Urho Vaakanainen, John Moore, a first-round draft pick and two second-rounders.

So what does he bring to the table? Any assessment of Lindholm should center around his physical tools. He’s a 6’4”, 216-pound blueliner with outstanding mobility for his size. First and foremost, he uses his skating to maintain a tight gap on opponents in the neutral zone:

The majority of defensemen would be wary of employing such an aggressive posture. Lindholm shows no fear whatsoever due to his faith in his wheels. He knows that few players are capable of dusting him altogether, while his long stick provides the same perks that a reach advantage does for boxers. He can influence the action from a distance. Forwards can’t hide the puck from him.

As a result, he can repel attacks before they ever take shape. He undercuts stretch passes or breathes down the neck of his opponents near the defensive blue line, forcing them into suboptimal choices (e.g. low-percentage dekes, stop-ups, dump-ins, etc.).

Even when his squad does concede zone entries, Lindholm’s powerful stride is a great asset:

If he finds himself behind the play for any reason, he can recover in the blink of an eye. Moreover, he doesn’t merely retreat to the middle of the ice like most rearguards do when a forward claims a step on them. Lindholm takes bold pursuit angles in order to deny as much space as he can and squeeze puck-carriers rather than surrendering quality real estate. The 28-year-old has the kind of speed required to staple himself to the opposition’s hip and stay there.

Lindholm’s skating ability also helps in less obvious ways. He consistently wins races to pucks, dulling the threat of lob passes and breaking up cycles on account of his impressive reaction time. It’s not uncommon for him to jump into passing lanes before the recipient knows the play is headed in their direction.

Granted, the fact that he’s often in a trailing stance means that he isn’t spotless from a positional standpoint, but he has the mobility to put out most fires—including the ones he starts himself. Moreover, he’s joining one of the most defensively conscientious units in the league. No team allows fewer scoring chances, high-danger chances or expected goals than the Bruins. Both their forwards and defensemen are excellent at staying on top of the puck and covering for each other when necessary. In a nutshell, Lindholm will have more support than he ever enjoyed in Anaheim.

His size should also help Boston when the tempo slows down. Though he’s definitely not a thumper, he’s strong at the point of attack. He’ll lean on opponents along the boards to erase them from the action and his reach is a thorn in the side of puck-carriers:

Once the offense has established zone time, Lindholm simplifies his game and leverages his frame. He wins a fair share of his battles and frequently beats opponents to loose pucks in front of the net.

His decision-making with the biscuit, however, is another story. He occasionally attempts to do too much, holding on to the puck instead of opting for the simple play. He’s a capable passer when he recognizes the best available outlet, but whether he’ll pick it out is anyone’s guess. Consequently, he has a habit of letting opponents get downhill in a hurry. Ideally, he would be paired with a puck-mover who can allow him to focus on protecting the house.

Enter Charlie McAvoy. Surely, Lindolm will trust an established all-around workhorse like McAvoy more than he did the talented but undeniably green Jamie Drysdale. He shouldn’t need too much of an adjustment period before settling in and playing to his strengths.

When he has the puck in the offensive zone, Lindholm is most effective at his most basic. He’s a willing shooter and does well to avoid the first wave of traffic:

There’s nothing fancy about this, but when play tightens up in the postseason, screens, tips and rebounds become a vital source of offense. Therefore, a defenseman who can change the release point of their shot and filter their bids through a mess of bodies is of great use.

On the whole, Lindholm is not quite deserving of his shutdown reputation. He doesn’t boast Adam Pelech’s inescapable stick, Jonas Brodin’s keen hockey sense or Jaccob Slavin’s masterful one-on-one exploits. He’s still a stout defender, though, and he has better raw tools than any of his counterparts. The benefits of icing a swift-skating and responsible 6’4” blueliner are impossible to ignore.

Boston simply couldn’t pass up this opportunity. A steady and experienced top-pairing defenseman in his prime could become the piece that extends the Bruins’ championship window for a little while longer.