There are many factors that contributed to the demise of the 2024-25 Boston Bruins. Season-ending injuries to key defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. Subpar goaltending. Bad special teams.

And on the list was the fact that the B’s did not get nearly the desired return on the big offseason investments they made on Elias Lindholm (seven years at $7.75 million per season) and Nikita Zadorov (six years at $5 million).

That was mostly due to slow starts by both players. Part of Lindholm’s issue was the fact the he battled an early back problem. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Zadorov, meanwhile, struggled with consistency and penalty trouble. He led the league in penalty minutes (145) as well as minors taken (40).

But if you’re grasping for positives heading into the B’s 2025-26 season of

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