Will Bruins’ decision to bolster defense over scoring help backfire?

Don Sweeney and the Bruins honed in on defensive fortitude over scoring punch this offseason. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff (sports)Don Sweeney and his staff improved the Bruins on Monday afternoon.

In one swoop, Boston allocated a hefty portion of its surplus cap space toward the top center on the market in Elias Lindholm and arguably the most imposing blueliner in the league in Nikita Zadorov.

One could harp on the term that Boston doled out to both players, and there are valid questions about whether or not a pivot like Lindholm is true top-line talent, or rather a poised 2C on a deeper squad.

But hefty payouts are the price of doing business this time of year, especially when it comes to…