Hampus Lindholm Takes Major Step Toward Eventual Bruins Return

BOSTON — After missing nearly two months of action while on injured reserve, Hampus Lindholm took a significant first step toward his eventual return to the Boston Bruins lineup.

Lindholm was back on the ice at TD Garden on Tuesday, skating ahead of the team’s morning skate for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 12.

Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco said there is still no timetable for Lindholm’s return. However, that shouldn’t undermine the amount of progress Lindholm has made in his recovery or how much the Bruins have missed him.

That’s Hampus Lindholm back on the ice. He’s been out since November 12. pic.twitter.com/3x3URZxdAU

— steve conroy (@conroyherald) January 7, 2025

“You miss any player that you have in your lineup that obviously has an impact on the game, night in and night out,” Sacco said. “Every team goes through those types of scenarios. We’re no different. We’ve been somewhat fortunate, knock on wood, not to have too many. We miss Hampus. He plays in all situations for us. He plays against top lines, eats up a lot of minutes, and is a big guy that defends well, so when the time comes, it’ll be a nice addition to our group.”

There’s an argument to be made that Lindholm had been the best and most consistent player for the Bruins before he blocked a shot off his left leg in St. Louis. He was certainly their best defenseman.

Through the first 17 games of the season, Lindholm had been skating an average of 20:51 of time on ice per night while playing on both special teams units. His seven points were the best among Bruins defensemen at the time, and his three goals remain second, even after missing the last 25 games.

Boston hasn’t had a goal from a defenseman since Charlie McAvoy scored twice in a 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 1. That wouldn’t be all that concerning if the Bruins were producing up front, but a lack of high-end skill and speed has left them starved for goals for much of the year.

“We need to keep putting the puck toward the net and making sure that we have that shot mentality with two on the inside,” said Sacco.  Sooner or later, some of those will go in, and then, just making sure that our timing is accurate when we want to join the rush, support the attack, and get up in the play. Those are the opportunities for D-men to score.”

The Bruins have made a conscious effort to do just that in recent games, but it has come at the expense of their defensive structure. Boston has lost each of its last four games while being outscored 16-10 in that span.

“You certainly can’t push it,” McAvoy said. “Nobody wins when you push it. You just end up being out of position. We’re pretty strict with our team, and that allows us to have success defensively. So, pushing for offense, it’s not going to work for anybody.”

Maintaining that balance will be even more difficult tonight against the high-powered Edmonton Oilers, who, with Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, have the ability to run the Bruins out of their own building.

Puck drop between the Bruins and Oilers is slated for 7 p.m. at TD Garden.

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