Calgary Flames Close To Deal With Canucks Involving Kuzmenko And More For Lindholm

Flames appear set to move pending unrestricted free agent Elias Lindholm to Pacific Division rival ahead of NHL trade deadline

Elliotte Friedman made a dull Wednesday night hop to life when he tweeted that the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks were close to making a deal for impending unrestricted free agent Elias Lindholm.

Lindholm is one of the most coveted pieces available ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

Things escalated quickly and pending a trade call, it’s being reported that Andrei Kuzmenko and other assets would be packaged to Calgary for Lindholm — who happens to be representing the Flames at this weekend’s all-star event in Toronto.

Looks like that jersey might change.

Lindholm is two years removed from a 42-goal, 82-point season with the Flames. He was a Selke finalist that year playing between Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk.

With just nine goals and 32 points in 49 games so far this season, the decline has been steep. But with the uncertainty of his future and a Flames team lacking top-end talent, a change of scenery may spark the 29-year-old’s game.

The Swede is in the final year of a deal with an $4.85 AAV. Kuzmenko would be considered a salary dump for the Canucks, making $5.5 million per year with one more year left on his deal after this season.

Reports suggest Kuzmenko has waived his partial no-trade clause to bring the deal closer to fruition.

Stay tuned for more.