Flames trade Lindholm to Canucks
The Calgary Flames traded center Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks for winger Andrei Kuzmenko, defense prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick, and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick, the teams announced.
The fourth-round pick will become a third-rounder if the Canucks make the Western Conference Final.
Kuzmenko waived his no-trade clause to accept the move to Calgary, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Lindholm is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $4.85 million. There's currently no extension in the works, LeBrun added.
The 29-year-old center has produced 32 points in 49 games this season. His best season came in 2021-22 when he tallied 42 goals and 40 assists in 82 games while finishing as the Selke Trophy runner up for his defensive efforts.
Lindholm gives the Canucks added depth down the middle of the ice. He joins Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Pius Suter, Teddy Blueger, and Nils Aman as Vancouver's center options. Lindholm's presence could allow Canucks coach Rick Tocchet the flexibility to play Pettersson and Miller together - as they've done at times this season - while still having ample center depth.
Lindholm was also set to be the Flames' lone All-Star representative. The festivities could now be a good weekend to get to know some of his teammates, as the Canucks already had an NHL-high five representatives before adding Lindholm.
Kuzmenko, 27, recorded 39 goals and 74 points in his rookie campaign last year, but he's struggling in 2023-24 with just eight goals and 13 assists in 43 contests. He's in the first season of a two-year deal carrying a $5.5-million cap hit.
Brzustewicz, 19, was a third-round pick by the Canucks in 2023. The 6-foot, right-handed defenseman leads all OHL skaters this season with 61 assists in 47 games.
Jurmo, 21, was a third-round pick in 2020. The 6-foot-3 blue-liner has tallied three points in 34 games in Finland's top professional league this season.
This marks the second trade between Canucks general manger Patrik Allvin and Flames GM Craig Conroy this season after Nikita Zadorov was sent from Calgary to Vancouver in November.
It's been a particularly busy 24 hours for Allvin, who signed a multi-year extension earlier Wednesday.