The Vancouver Canucks made a major splash on Wednesday, acquiring star center Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Andrei Kuzmenko, prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round selection.
Here are the full trade details:
Canucks receive:
- C Elias Lindholm
Flames receive:
- LW Andrei Kuzmenko
- D Hunter Brzustewicz
- D Joni Jurmo
- 2024 1st round draft pick
- 2024 4th round draft pick (conditional)
Lindholm, 29, is a two-way force down the middle and adds significant depth to a Canucks team with eyes on making a deep playoff run this spring. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound pivot is having another strong campaign in 2023-2024, notching 9 goals and 23 assists for 32 points through 49 games. He was also named to his first career NHL All-Star game this season.
Over his 11-year NHL career with Carolina and Calgary, Lindholm has amassed 212 goals and 545 points in 792 regular season contests. His best offensive showing came just two seasons ago when he poured in a career-high 42 goals and 82 points in 82 games. He finished as a finalist for the Selke Trophy that year as the league’s top defensive forward.
For the Canucks, the Swedish center brings versatility – able to play wing or center – to their top-six forward group. He is expected to slot in immediately on the first or second line, flanked by the likes of Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller or Andrei Kuzmenko’s replacement on the top unit.
Lindholm will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. The Canucks will have to decide whether to commit to him long-term or let him test the market this summer.
As for the Flames’ return, Kuzmenko has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two NHL seasons but has struggled to find consistency with just 8 goals and 21 assists through 43 games this year. The 26-year-old winger will get a fresh start in Calgary and attempt to regain his scoring touch. Meanwhile, prospects Brzustewicz and Jurmo give the Flames additional defensive depth for the future.
With the NHL trade deadline still a month away, this blockbuster could be just the start of an active trade season out West as teams load up for the playoffs.
The Canucks and Flames rivalry got a bit more interesting today.
