3 Boston Bruins bounce-back candidates for 2025-26 feat. Hampus Lindholm

The Boston Bruins will be looking to shake off a disastrous 2024-25 season. Boston finished with a 33-39-10 slate, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16 and registering a losing record for the first time since 2006-07.

Getting back to the playoffs will depend on the club’s veteran core rallying together and turning a corner. Most importantly, the Bruins will need to rally behind new coach Marco Sturm.

Here are three Boston Bruins players who look poised to bounce back in 2025-26.

3 Boston Bruins bounce-back candidates for 2025-26

#1 Pavel Zacha

NHL: Boston Bruins at Vegas Golden Knights - Source: Imagn

Pavel Zacha is the Bruins’ default top-line center. His numbers, however, don’t seem to signal that. Zacha played a full season, but saw a precipitous drop in his production. He went from 21 goals in 2023-24 to 14 last year. Zacha’s point totals also dropped from 59 to 47, raising questions about his role on the team.

With Sturm at the helm, Zacha will have a shot at a fresh start. It could spark a turnaround for the 28-year-old center, potentially bringing him back to his career-high of 59 points.

Bruins fans will hope that Zacha’s down year was an outlier, stemming from an overall tough season for the club.

#2 Elias Lindholm

NHL: Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks - Source: Imagn

The Bruins signed Elias Lindholm last offseason to bolster their top-six forward group. However, he was largely absent during prolonged stretches of the season. While Lindholm managed to score 17 goals and amass 47 points, the totals were not in line with his $7.75 million cap hit.

But like Zacha, Lindholm will have a shot at a fresh start with Sturm, who will look to push the reset button for his veteran core and allow them to rediscover their game.

If so, Lindholm could rebound to a 20-goal, 50-point season.

#3 Hampus Lindholm

NHL: Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes - Source: Imagn

Hampus Lindholm is the Bruins’ top bounce-back candidate after a season to forget. Lindholm went down with an injury 17 games into the season and missed the rest of the year. He attempted to return from knee surgery before the end of the season, but just wasn’t there.

He’s expected to return at full strength next season. His return will be crucial as the Bruins look to get back into the playoff hunt in the Atlantic Division. Lindholm, along with top blue liner Charlie McAvoy, could once again be among the NHL’s best defensive pairings.

If he can stay healthy, Lindholm could return to the 50-point season he had with the Bruins in 2022-23.

About the author

Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.

Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early '90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.

Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can't for stories.

When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.

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Edited by Nestor Quixtan