Report: ‘Talks intensifying’ between Canucks and Flames on an Elias Lindholm trade

Talks are intensifying between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames when it comes to an Elias Lindholm trade, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman:

Lindholm, 29, has been the subject of trade speculation linking him to the Vancouver Canucks for months. A right-shot centre hailing from Boden, Sweden, Lindholm certainly fits a need for the Canucks’ current lineup.

CanucksArmy has learned that Andrei Kuzmenko will be part of the trade package going back to Calgary. According to Rick Dhaliwal, Calgary is on Kuzmenko’s 12 team no-trade list, meaning Kuzmenko will need to approve the trade. That process is ongoing.

At 5:21 p.m PST, Pierre LeBrun confirmed that Kuzmenko has waived his no-trade clause to accept the trade to Calgary.

Friedman later reported that prospect defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz, drafted by the Canucks in the 3rd round of the 2023 draft, is included in the deal. He has eight goals and 69 points in 47 games with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.

Lindholm has ties back to the Canucks’ management group, as Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford was the General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes club that drafted Lindholm fifth overall in the 2013 NHL draft. Although drafted as a centre, Lindholm spent the majority of his time on the wing while with the Hurricanes. It wasn’t until he was packaged in a trade with Noah Hanifin that sent him to the Calgary Flames that he got a more dominant run as a centreman.

With Calgary, Lindholm centred one of the most dominant lines in the NHL between Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau during the 2021-22 season. In that season, Lindholm tallied 42 goals and 40 assists while providing high-calibre defence.

While his offensive numbers have taken a bit of a dip this season — he’s on pace for 15 goals & 54 points, the lowest mark of his Flames career — Lindholm’s defensive game is legit, and he’s long been a part of the Selke Trophy conversation as the NHL’s best defensive forward.

If the Canucks were to pull the trigger on a deal to bring Lindholm in, they’d be hoping for him to rediscover the offence that seems to be missing in his game this season. Since he’s a more than capable centre, Lindholm would provide the Canucks with plenty of options, as his versatility should mean the Canucks can feel more comfortable about splitting up the Lotto Line, as Lindholm would be able to fit in seamlessly alongside either Elias Pettersson or JT Miller.

– With files by Zach Laing.