The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forward Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Andrei Kuzmenko, prospects Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo and a first-round and conditional fourth-round pick of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier Wednesday that the talks between Vancouver and Calgary regarding Elias Lindholm had been heating up.
The 29-year-old centre and alternate captain has nine goals and 32 points in 49 games this season for the Flames, who are sitting five points out of a wild-card spot.
Lindholm joined the Flames via trade from the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2018 off-season. In his six-year tenure in Calgary, he’s scored 148 goals and 357 points. He was one of many high-profile Flames players set to hit free agency after this season, a list that also includes Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev.
“In acquiring Elias Lindholm we feel that he vastly improves our hockey team,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “He is a proven front line performer and will give head coach Rick Tocchet some more options when putting together our top two lines.”
Kuzmenko joined the Canucks as an undrafted free agent from the KHL in Russia ahead of the 2022-23 season. He had an outstanding rookie campaign, potting 39 goals and 74 points in 81 games, which earned him a two-year, $11 million contract, set to expire at the end of next season.
The 27-year-old has struggled in his sophomore campaign, scoring just eight goals and 21 points in 43 games this season. He has been a healthy scratch for the Canucks five times this year and scratched once due to injury.
Brzustewicz, a right-shot defenceman, is currently playing for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, where he has 69 points in 47 games.
Joni Jurmo, a 2020 third-round pick for the Canucks, plays for KooKoo in Finland’s Liiga, where he has one goal and two assists in seven games as a defenceman.
Flames general manager Craig Conroy confirmed that the conditional fourth-round pick turns into a third-round pick if the Canucks make the Western Conference Final. He also confirmed that the Flames will not retain salary on Lindholm.
“What I was looking for in return, I got it,” Conroy said following the trade. “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’m thinking it’s a fair deal. A good hockey trade for both teams.”
Both the Flames and the Canucks are in the midst of their all-star breaks, with both teams returning to action on Feb. 6. They are set to play one another for the third time this season on March. 23.