Bruins coach offers update on injured defenseman

The Boston Bruins will have to make do without Hampus Lindholm for the foreseeable future after he left Tuesday thrilling win against the St. Louis Blues in the first period.

“Lower body injury. It’s going to take weeks.” coach Jim Montgomery told reporters in Texas Wednesday. “Weeks is plural. So don’t ask me again, please.”

It is unclear what the extent of the injury is.

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Should the Bruins expect Lindholm to be out after December 7, they could elect to place him on long-term injury reserve and get a portion of his $6.5 million AAV salary back against the cap. NHL rules require that a player must be sidelined for a minimum of 10 games and 24 calendar days to qualify for LTIR. It can be applied retroactively.

The steadfast defender suffered a lower-body injury late in the opening period at Enterprise Center when he blocked a Justin Faulk shot. Lindholm went straight to the locker room and was quickly excluded.

Montgomery recently called Lindholm the Bruins’ most impactful player. He leads the team with 14 points and is second on the team in ice time with 20:51, behind fellow defenseman Charlie McAvoy (23:56). He may be Boston’s best defender this season.

Lindholm, who had three goals and four assists in 17 games, was just moved to Boston’s top power-play unit, further highlighting just how big his loss will be.

The Bruins called out veteran defenseman Jordan Oesterle after Lindholm’s injury. He is third on the P-Bruins with eight points and has played in 371 NHL games.