The Boston Bruins got a terrible break, losing top-line center Elias Lindholm to what could be a long-term injury. Lindholm left the game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
The initial diagnosis is a lower-body injury, with head coach Marco Sturm delivering an awful bit of news. Lindholm is expected to be out week-to-week. That’s no bueno as it could mean anywhere from three to four weeks to a couple of months, or more.
Sturm confirmed Lindholm would be getting an MRI to confirm the extent of the injury.
Here’s a look at the play leading to the injury:
The gruesome nature of the injury has prompted speculation about how bad the situation could be for Lindholm and the Bruins.
Renowned sports physician Dr. Harjas Grewal weighed in on the situation, estimating that Lindholm could be out of commission for about four to six weeks. Grewal stated:
Of course, Grewal’s opinion comes solely from the video. But judging from Grewal’s expert opinion, the injury might not be as bad as it looked on the ice. Then again, anything is possible. So, the situation could be worse depending on what the MRI reveals.
In the worst of cases, the Bruins center could result in much more severe structural damage to his knee ligaments. For instance, a torn ligament could keep him out of the lineup for most of the regular season.
But here’s hoping Lindholm can get back into the lineup sooner than anticipated.
Lindholm Injury to Test Bruins’ Depth
Elias Lindholm’s injury will be a major test for the Bruins’ depth. The club is already pretty thin down the middle. Beyond Lindholm, Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt are the only truly experienced NHL centers on the team.
Rookie Fraser Minten and bottom-six grinder Sean Kuraly provide cover. But how much will that help the Bruins?
At least on Saturday afternoon, the Bruins eked out a 2-1 win over an outstanding Carolina Hurricanes club. Their strong defensive play allowed the Bruins to escape with a huge victory.
But the broader question is: How much longer can the Bruins survive without Lindholm?
The answer to that question depends on how long he’ll be out. If it’s the four to six weeks, as Grewal speculated, the Bruins may be able to get by without having to resort to additional moves.
But if Lindholm misses more time, the club may necessitate to find another center.
Boston Likely Keeping Zacha
One of the prevailing rumors around the league has been Zacha heading out the door. The hottest rumor over the last week or so has been Zacha going to the Vancouver Canucks.
But Lindholm’s injury has likely thrown a monkey wrench into those plans. With Lindholm in the lineup, the Bruins had the luxury of moving on from Zacha. But without Lindholm, trading Zacha would be ludicrous.
So, it seems that Zacha might well be staying put for the time being. That’s not to say a trade cannot happen. But whatever GM Don Sweeney chooses to do, it will depend on Lindholm and the standings.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bruins Get Devastating Injury News on Top-Line Player appeared first on Heavy Sports.