Don Sweeney Shuts Down Theory Regarding Bruins Newcomers
BOSTON — The Bruins made a big splash in free agency when they signed Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to long-term deals.
Unfortunately for the Black and Gold, neither player has made a positive impact in the lineup — yet.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney shut down the notion that the pair simply aren’t good fits for the franchise.
“No, I don’t think there’s a concern they’re not a good fit. They have not played to the level we expected them to,” Sweeney told reporters on Wednesday. “But again … it’s pretty widespread.”
Lindholm himself acknowledged frustration over his start with the Bruins, with just one five-on-five goal in 20 games, and Sweeney said it started back in training camp.
“In Elias’ case, he missed a lot of camp, so he didn’t develop some chemistry with who we envisioned him playing, and then they got off to a rough start and haven’t (built chemistry),” Sweeney said. “So, we bounced it around. They found a little bit more traction in terms of where their positionings are now in (Pavel) Zacha and (David) Pastrnak playing together. Brad (Marchand) and Elias, but it’s not translated to the results we want.
“So, it needs to be better. He’s acknowledged that publicly. It needs to be better. Is there a transitional phase that all players go to come here? Yes, but that time is over with. Well passed, as a matter of fact, especially for established players in the league.”
Zadorov’s impact has been a bit different. The 6-foot-6, 248-pound defenseman has a league-leading 13 minor penalties and just five assists to begin his time with the Bruins.
“Nikita, we want another level from him as well. He’s shown pockets of it,” Sweeney said. “But he got off to a tough start with taking too many penalties and putting himself in that trying to be an aggressive player, and bring the identity of what’s been described as, and find himself in the box.
“And now all of a sudden, you’re playing a little more tentatively, and we need him to reassert himself. Obviously, with the pressure of Hampus (Lindholm) being injured now. The microscope falls there.”
Sweeney has no doubt both players can turn it around and help the Bruins get back on track as a team that’s hard to play against.
“They need to be better. They’ve admitted that, and they will,” Sweeney said. “But from a fit standpoint, the identification that those were players that would help us, I’m not second-guessing where they are right now. I’m second-guessing the performance of them and our group.”