Elias Lindholm is a $7.75 million No. 3 center, and Bruins have to deal with it

BOSTON On Monday, Oliver Wahlstrom was Elias Lindholm s left wing for the Boston Bruins 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks .

The Bruins claimed Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders on Dec.

14.

Wahlstrom was a healthy scratch for the Bruins two previous games.

The 24-year-old has one goal and one assist in 11 games while averaging 11:05 of ice time per appearance.

Advertisement Vinni Lettieri was Lindholms right wing.

The Bruins acquired Lettieri to serve as a depth forward.

Lettieri, 29, has 312 career AHL appearances and 132 NHL games.

Lindholm was playing with appropriate linemates.

In 10:31 of shared five-on-five time, the Wahlstrom-Lindholm-Lettieri recorded a 61.11 Corsi For rating, per Natural Stat Trick .

In the first period, Lindholm and Lettieri occupied the slot on Jordan Oesterle s right-point shot.

Lettieri deflected in Oesterles shot for his second goal in two games.

Lindholm served his role well as No.

3 center.

The Sharks used Henry Thrun as Lindholms most common five-on-five opponent (6:12).

Overall, Thrun played 15:51, least of any San Jose defenseman.

As for the rest of his game, Lindholm executed an in-stride pass to Pavel Zacha on a second-period power play.

Moments later, David Pastrnak received Zachas pass and banked in a shot off Jake Walman .

Lindholm scored an empty-netter in the final minute of regulation.

Lindholm played 17:05, sixth-most among team forwards.

This may be Lindholms level.

The Bruins expected far more when they signed Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract on July 1.

They saw Lindholm centering the No.

1 line between Zacha and Pastrnak, working the bumper on the No.

1 power-play unit, shadowing top opponents, killing penalties and taking important faceoffs.

Lindholm and Pastrnak get along off the ice.

On it has been another story.

In 193:28 of shared five-on-five time, Lindholm and Pastrnak have been on for six goals for and seven against.

It wasnt good enough for ex-coach Jim Montgomery to justify keeping them together.

Lindholms time on the second line with Brad Marchand didnt go much better.

The Bruins have outscored opponents by an 18-15 margin in the 417:46 of five-on-five time Lindholm and Marchand have spent together.

Advertisement Then theres the eye test.

It is difficult to recall many meaningful plays Lindholm has made with either Pastrnak or Marchand.

In the defensive zone, Lindholm was on the ice for both of the Ottawa Senators empty-net goals in the third period of the Bruins 6-5 shootout loss on Jan.

18.

Prior to Nick Jensen s goal, which pulled the Senators within one, Lindholm coughed up the puck below the goal line.

It was an inexcusable play by a center with a reputation for D-zone thoroughness.

This has left interim coach Joe Sacco with little choice but to classify Lindholm, perhaps temporarily, as a No.

3 center.

Zacha and Pastrnak read off each other well enough to keep them locked in, especially with Morgan Geekie executing reliable and consistent work as their left wing.

It is the only line giving Sacco predictable results.

Him, Pav and Geeks have been playing well together for a while now, Sacco said of his No.

1 right wing.

I think theyve found some chemistry.

They seem to know where each other is at certain points in the offensive zone.

That just comes from playing with each other.

As for the No.

2 line, the Bruins recalled Matt Poitras from Providence on Jan.

14 for a reason.

First, the 20-year-old earned the promotion.

He had scored 20 points in 23 games.

Second, the Bruins need a sharper picture of what Poitras can become as they consider what path they take at the March 7 trade deadline.

Poitras, while centering Marchand and Charlie Coyle against the Sharks, set up both of his right wings third-period goals.

Its possible Poitras grows into the second-line role for which Lindholm has fallen short.

Poitras is not as trustworthy as Lindholm away from the puck.

But the Bruins are willing to live with Poitras shortcomings as long as he pushes the pace, creates offense and controls the puck.

Those are qualities that Lindholm has not submitted with nearly enough regularity.

The 30-year-old has been late on arrivals, light on the puck and disengaged from plays during his first- and second-line shifts.

Advertisement Don Sweeneys projection on Lindholm looks like one of the general managers biggest misses.

Its a mistake that is impossible to correct.

For now, maybe Lindholm can be a good third-line center.

That he is getting paid twice the positions going rate is something the Bruins have no choice but to eat.

(Photo of David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm: Michael Reaves / Getty Images).

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