'Checked all the boxes': Flames’ Conroy satisfied with return for Lindholm

Not that Craig Conroy needed to justify anything about the significant haul he’d just procured from Vancouver, but when asked about the curious timing of it all, the Flames GM was direct.

“What I was looking for in return, I got it,” said Conroy of the all-star week trade Wednesday that saw him send Elias Lindholm to Vancouver for a first-round pick, a conditional fourth-rounder, Andrei Kuzmenko and prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo.

“I was looking to get younger, and picks, and a roster player — they checked all the boxes, and it was the best deal moving forward.

“I didn’t have a timeline set, I thought it would be closer to the deadline, but about four days ago Vancouver got aggressive, so I circled back with other teams and told them I was getting pushed and needed a decision.

“I’m thinking it’s a fair deal, a good hockey trade for both teams.”

Unlike his summertime Yegor Sharangovich swap for Tyler Toffoli that was erroneously panned by many, this one is a massive win for the first year GM and his organization.

And the deal could get even better, as the fourth-rounder turns into a third-rounder if the Canucks make it to the conference final.

Quite a haul for the Flames in exchange for a player whose contract demands for a possible extension weren’t anywhere near what they were willing to pay.

Conroy said there were “more than five” serious trade candidates who were “very interested,” and all but one team was willing to bring the 29-year-old centre in without first trying to talk about an extension with him.

The Flames didn’t have to retain any of Lindholm’s salary, but have taken on all of Kuzmenko’s $5.5-million salary this year and next before he becomes a UFA. 

In Kuzmenko, they land a right-shot winger who was one of the NHL’s biggest surprises last year when the 26-year-old Russian rookie scored 39 goals.

This season he’s struggled offensively and been a healthy scratch five times by Rick Tocchet, who wanted the winger to be more engaged.

Bereft of confidence, Kuzmenko was seen as someone the Canucks would be happy to trade with an eye on upgrading their top six, while also opening up cap space to hopefully re-sign Elias Pettersson this summer.

Mission accomplished for the surging Canucks, who now have plenty of options for how to utilize middlemen Pettersson, Lindholm and J.T. Miller.

For the deal to be consummated, Kuzmenko had to amend his no-trade clause, which had Calgary listed on his 12-team document.

A call between Kuzmenko, his agent, Conroy and Flames coach Ryan Huska straightened it all out.

“We laid out what his usage would be and where and who he’d play with,” said Conroy.

“The bottom line is he’s good on the power play, he’s a right shot and we’re losing a right shot in Lindy.

“He can score. He’s got real good vision and skillset to add to the team.

“He liked the opportunity to play with really good players and contribute offensively.

“It sounds like he likes to score goals, and we like that too.”

Much like Sharangovich, the hope is that with increased opportunity will come a return to the touch and confidence he exhibited en route to 74 points last year.

Brzustewicz led all draft-eligible defencemen in points last year with 57 in 68 games.

This year the six-foot, 194-pound playmaker leads the OHL with 61 assists in 47 games and sits third in the league with 69 points, making the power-play quarterback an intriguing prospect.

“He’s having a really nice year,” said Conroy of the 19-year-old Michigan native who was part of the U.S. National Team Development Program.

“He sees the ice well and has good hockey sense and vision. 

“He’s not physical, but he moves well and will beat you with his hockey mind.”

He too shoots right, something the Flames are sorely lacking on their blue line.

Jurmo was a Canucks third-round selection in 2020, who hasn’t been much of a point producer as a 21-year-old stay-at-home defender in the Finnish SM-Liiga.

 “Jurmo is a big guy who skates well and is more of a defensive defenceman who brings an element you’re looking to add to your team,” said Conroy, who had yet to make contact with the six-foot-three, 207-pound youngster. 

“He needs work on his all-around game.”

Lindholm adds massive depth to the surging Canucks, as one of the league’s best 200-foot centres.

Blossoming into a 42-goal scorer with the Flames two years ago, the alternate captain was one of the first legitimate first line centres the Flames have had in several decades.

However, his point totals have declined significantly since linemates Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau departed, making it hard to envision how the Flames could justify extending Lindholm for upwards of $8 to $9 million on a long-term extension.

He was the perfect trade chip to kickstart the significant youth movement Conroy initiated when he was hired last summer.

The expectation was Lindholm could help the team land a first-rounder, a prospect and a top-six player.

Conroy managed to land much more, trading Lindholm days before the NHL All-Star Game in Toronto. The Flames’ lone representative will now play alongside a handful of fellow Canucks.

When asked if the acquisition of two defencemen suggested he was likely to trade one or both pending UFAs Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, he chuckled.      

“This is just one trade,” he said.

There will be more.

Stay tuned.