The Boston Bruins were hard to watch for everyone in 2024-25, but no one had a vantage point quite like Hampus Lindholm.

While he missed nearly the entire season with a broken patella, there was nothing the defenseman could do as the Bruins fell into disarray, finishing dead last in the Eastern Conference.

Still, though, Lindholm watched, and he saw a team that was a shell of itself.

“I felt like watching the games, it was hard to really see what our identity was,” Lindholm said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast during the NHL/NHLPA European media tour in Milan, Italy. “We need to get back to that, and then you can kind of work from there.”

Lindholm has been back skating on his surgically repaired knee for months. He will be ready when training camp begins in a few weeks, which will no doubt be a critical time for the team.

With a new head coach and many new additions to the roster, the Bruins have a limited amount of time to figure out what their identity is heading into the regular season.

“We’ve talked a lot about the Boston culture,” said Lindholm. “Every team has their own culture. We need to find how we’re going to play with the guys that we have in that locker room early this year, because every year is unique. We know we have that Boston culture of how we want to play. I think the guys in the room need to really buy into what we want to accomplish out there.”

The Bruins aren’t expected to amount to much this season, with the majority of the additions coming on the fringes of the roster.

Nevertheless, there are few core pieces in place and some more on the way that should, in theory, help the team return to playoff contention sooner rather than later.

“We’ve got some good draft picks,” Lindholm said. “I haven’t met [James] Hagens yet, but I’ve heard great things. We have some really good veterans who have shown that they can win in this league. We just need to figure out to build around that. People are going to underestimate us, but I’m very optimistic. I think we’ve got some good things ahead.”

Whatever success the Bruins do have this year will of course start and end with David Pastrnak.

Boston’s collective struggles last season made Pastrnak’s individual performance all the more impressive, as the dynamic winger essentially carried the Bruins on his back, registering 106 points with 43 goals across all 82 games. All the while, his steadying presence as a locker room leader prevented the team from fracturing all together.

Lindholm wasn’t around much to fully witness the total effect that Pastrnak had on the Bruins. But even from afar, he felt it entirely.

“If there were some bright points, it was how he played with the guys maybe not helping around him as much as he’s had in the past,” said Lindholm. “He was remarkable last year. He’s such a player, and such a personality. I love him as a person, and as a friend, too. He’s very special. He has his way of leading us out there.”

Of course, if it’s once again only Pastrnak leading the way, the Bruins won’t fair any better this year than they did last.

Lindholm’s return to action will help. The same could be said of Charlie McAvoy. They, along Jeremy Swayman, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Morgan Geekie, are taking over as the new core of the Bruins.

They’re ready to take on those who doubt them.

“It’s important that you lead your own way,” Lindholm said. “It’s got to come from the heart, and then people will respect and listen to you. We’re all very passionate about our hockey and winning. I think we got some great leaders…I think it’s going to be really, really good.

“The pressure is to go out there and play hard on the ice. The rest will kind of take care of itself.”

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