Report: Canucks coveted Chris Tanev in Lindholm trade, Flames wanted another 1st

The Vancouver Canucks pulled off an enormous trade with the Calgary Flames on Wednesday to acquire rental centre Elias Lindholm — and, from the sounds of it, they could’ve gotten even more.

The Canucks sent five pieces, including their own 2024 first-round pick, to the Flames to acquire Lindholm’s services. But as the news of the deal started to trickle out on Wednesday evening, reports started to surface that Lindholm might not be the only player coming from Calgary in the deal.

Much like Lindholm, veteran defenceman Chris Tanev is also set to become an unrestricted free agent this coming July and is reportedly on the trade block in Calgary. And as Vancouver hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal indicated on Wednesday night, the Canucks wanted Tanev in the Lindholm deal but ultimately balked at the Flames’ price: a second first-round pick.

“Chris Tanev was a part of these trade talks, but the belief was that the Flames were asking for a first-round draft pick for Tanev,” Dhaliwal said. “That’s when talks broke down for Tanev in Vancouver.

“The Canucks will still try on Tanev, but if they don’t get him in a trade, they can always get him on July 1, and the immense respect for Tanev in the Canucks organization is incredible from top to bottom.”

Tanev, 34, has nine points in 46 games while averaging more 19:40 of ice time per night for the Flames this season. Calgary originally signed Tanev to a four-year contract as an unrestricted free agent from the Canucks back in 2020.

Of course, Tanev spent the first decade of his career in Vancouver after debuting with the Canucks in their 2010-11 Stanley Cup Final year. Through 763 career games over 14 NHL seasons with the Canucks and Flames, Tanev has racked up 32 goals and 180 points.

The 2024 NHL trade deadline is scheduled for March 8. The Flames and Canucks have now consummated two deals this season, with Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov heading to Vancouver in exchange for a cumulative package of four draft picks (2024 1st, 4th, and 5th; 2026 3rd) and three players (Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, and Andrei Kuzmenko).