Hampus Lindholm is the Real Deal

"He is a complete stud" is how Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery described Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm. The expectations for the 6 foot 4 defensemen were sky-high when he signed an 8-year 52 million dollar contract with the Boston Bruins after being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline. It is proving to be Don Sweeney's best move as GM of the Bruins. Since arriving in Boston, Lindholm has done nothing but exceed expectations. Coming into the season, the Bruins knew they would be without star defensemen Charlie McAvoy until mid-November. McAvoy is a massive part of the Bruins, as he is an outstanding two-way player, his presence and impact on the ice are impossible not to notice. McAvoy's injury was a huge blow to the Bruins. Fortunately, Hampus Lindholm has done everything you could hope for and more to fill the shoes of Charlie McAvoy. Hampus Lindholm is the fourth Bruins defenseman in franchise history to have at least a +9 plus/minus and 11+ points in his first ten games.

The other three are Bobby Orr, Brad Park, and Ray Bourque. That is some elite company. Lindholm's most impressive game of the season was the Bruins 6-5 OT win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored the OT winner and three assists while logging over 29 minutes of ice time. Despite the fantastic start for Lindholm offensively, the most impressive aspect of his game is how many minutes he plays every night. Lindholm's 24:19 ATOI leads all Boston Bruins. Hampus Lindholm has always been a good hockey player but, unfortunately, spent several years on a subpar Anaheim team. As a member of the Boston Bruins, Lindholm has shown that he's more than a good defenseman. He's an elite defenseman. Beyond his great start offensively with his 13 points in 11 games (Only Ray Bourque has scored more points in the team's first eleven games). In my opinion, Hampus Lindholm has been the best skater for the Boston Bruins this season. What separates him from the other Bruins is his hockey sense and IQ. He has this remarkable ability to always make the right play. The one word I would use to describe Lindholm this season is dominant. The Bruins have been the best team in hockey to start the year with their 10-1 record, and Lindholm is one of the most significant factors behind Boston's success. In the coming weeks, the Bruins defense will only get better with the return of Charlie McAvoy, and having two elite defensemen in the lineup only bolsters the Bruins chances of winning the Stanley Cup.