Trade season is officially upon us. The NHL is in its All-Star break but there has been an increase in trade activity around the league.
On Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks acquired center Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames for Andrei Kuzmenko, Joni Jurmo, Hunter Brzustewicz, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick (third-round if Canucks make Western Conference Final). Lindholm was one of the top players on the trade board as the top-six center’s contract is expiring after this season.
Moving Lindholm signaled the start of a potential fire sale in Calgary. The Flames have a few core pieces locked up, so they can’t go on a full-fledged rebuild, but rather the re-tool that Chuck Fletcher is so fond of.