Rumours have been swirling in recent weeks that the Vancouver Canucks, who are expected to be buyers ahead of the March 8 trade deadline, have been on the hunt for a major boost up front to ensure a long Stanley Cup run. The Canucks are reportedly been looking for a top-six forward — ideally, a second-line centre or, at least, a player with positional flexibility, and now Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that talks have intensified between Vancouver and none other than the Calgary Flames about Elias Lindholm.
Insider Kevin Weekes added that the potential trade could see Andrei Kuzmenko on this way to Calgary, along with other pieces. Weekes noted that talks are still fluid, though we could see something come out of this shortly.
However, according to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Calgary is in Kuzmenko's no-trade list. He has to approve the trade first. I’m told that process is ongoing.
It’s been reported for a while now that Lindholm is expected to be on the move prior to the March 8 trade deadline. He is in the final year of his current contract and extension talks with the Flames have fizzled, and with Calgary currently out of the playoff picture, it make sense that GM Craig Conroy would attempt to move a key bait like Lindholm to get some roster capital in return.
On Saturday, Lindholm finally snapped out of a 15-game scoring drought, but he still has only put up nine goals and 23 assists in 49 appearances this season. This puts him on pace for his lowest point total in any of his five full seasons in Calgary.
When it comes to Kuzmenko, his name has been dropped in trade rumours for weeks, especially since he’s struggled all season long and could benefit from a change of scenery. The 27-year-old forward is in the first year of a two-year, $11 million contract that he signed in January 2023 with a cap hit of $5.5 million. This could come as good news for the Canucks and Kuzmenko, who only has eight goals on the year.
More to come on this developing story.
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