Elias Lindholm
Swedish forward, first-round pick, youngest Swedish NHL goal-scorer.
Elias Viktor Zebulon Lindholm, a Swedish forward for the Boston Bruins in the NHL, was born on 2 December 1994. The Carolina Hurricanes picked him fifth overall in the 2013 draft, and he played his first five NHL seasons there. In his fourth game, on 10 October 2013, he scored his first NHL goal at 18 years and 311 days, making him the youngest Swedish-born player to score in the league, surpassing Gabriel Landeskog.
Before turning pro, Lindholm played for Brynäs IF’s under-20 team and was the second-leading scorer on their under-18 squad. SKA St. Petersburg selected him in the fourth round of the 2011 KHL Junior Draft. During the 2011–12 season, he joined Sweden’s Elitserien, appearing in 14 games for Brynäs IF, including two playoff contests. He also played in the 2011 World Junior A Challenge and the 2012 World U18 Championships. Still with Brynäs, he led all junior players in the Elitserien with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists). At the U20 World Junior Championship in Ufa, he scored two goals and two assists in six games, helping Sweden earn a silver medal.
Lindholm’s first NHL hat trick came on 8 March 2015, in a 7–4 win over the Edmonton Oilers. On 23 June 2018, the Hurricanes traded him and Noah Hanifin to the Calgary Flames for Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and prospect Adam Fox. He signed a six-year contract with Calgary on 16 July. In his first Flames season, he played top-line minutes with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, scoring 27 goals and 78 points—career highs for all three. The following season, he set a new personal best with 29 goals, though the schedule was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2020 bubble playoffs, the Flames beat the Winnipeg Jets in the qualifying round but lost to the Dallas Stars in the first round; Lindholm had two goals and four assists in 10 games.
The 2020–21 season saw all Canadian teams in a temporary North Division. Calgary struggled, replacing coach Geoff Ward with Darryl Sutter midway through. Sutter moved Lindholm back to centre after two seasons on the right wing, pairing him with Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk on a top line that clicked immediately. Lindholm recorded 19 goals and 28 assists in 56 games, but the Flames missed the playoffs. In the 2021–22 season, with divisions back to normal, the Flames enjoyed one of their best regular seasons.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1994-12-02
- Birth Place
- Boden, Sweden
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 1
- Weight Lb
- 200
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Right
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Boston Bruins
- Former Teams
- Brynäs IF / Carolina Hurricanes / Calgary Flames / Vancouver Canucks
- Ntl Team
- SWE
- Draft
- 5th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lindholm played with Brynäs IF's under-20 and under-18 teams in Sweden, and was selected in the fourth round (86th overall) by SKA St. Petersburg in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft. He joined Sweden's Elitserien in the 2011–12 season, playing 14 games including two playoff games for Brynäs IF. He led all junior players in the Elitserien with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) and won a silver medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship.
After being drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes, Lindholm made the opening roster for the 2013–14 season. He scored his first NHL goal in his fourth game on 10 October 2013, becoming the youngest Swedish-born NHL player to score a goal at 18 years and 311 days. On 8 March 2015, he scored his first career hat trick in a 7–4 win against the Edmonton Oilers. He was traded to the Calgary Flames on 23 June 2018 along with Noah Hanifin in exchange for Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and prospect Adam Fox.
In Calgary, Lindholm played top-line minutes and set career highs, including 42 goals and 82 points in the 2021–22 season, when he was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on 31 January 2024, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to score two or more goals in his first game with the team. He signed a seven-year, $54.25 million contract with the Boston Bruins on 1 July 2024.
Reader's Guide
Lindholm's significance lies in his consistent offensive production and defensive reliability over a long NHL career. Drafted fifth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, he immediately set a record as the youngest Swedish-born NHL goal-scorer. His tenure with the Flames saw him develop into a top-line center, forming a dominant line with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk that produced three 40-goal scorers in the same season—a feat not seen in 28 years. His 2021–22 Selke Trophy nomination underscored his two-way value. Internationally, Lindholm has represented Sweden extensively, winning a gold medal at the 2017 World Championships and a bronze in 2025, where he led the tournament in goals and was named to the all-star team. His career path—from a highly touted draft pick through multiple trades to a major free-agent contract—illustrates his enduring value as a reliable, versatile forward.
Did You Know?
- He scored his first career hat trick on 8 March 2015 against the Edmonton Oilers.
- In the 2021–22 season, Lindholm scored 42 goals and was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy.
- He led the 2025 World Championships in goals with eight and earned a bronze medal.
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