The Avalanche have been linked to Flames center Elias Lindholm. Who could they trade to land him?
The Avalanche have been linked to Flames center Elias Lindholm. Who could they trade to land him?
With the trade deadline (March 8) rapidly approaching, the Colorado Avalanche are expected to be among the NHL's top buyers. One player whom they have been connected to is Calgary Flames center and top trade target Elias Lindholm.
The Avalanche's interest in Lindholm is understandable. They need an upgrade at the second-line center spot, and he would give them that. They also have cap space to work with due to Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Pavel Francouz all being on LTIR.
Thus, the Avalanche and Flames could be perfect trading partners. Yet, who could the Flames target in a potential Lindholm deal? Let's discuss this now.
Calum Ritchie
Calum Ritchie is a prospect who the Flames could target in a Lindholm deal. The 18-year-old was the Avalanche's first-round pick in 2023 and has the potential to become a top-six center in the future.
Ritchie is also having a great season with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 19 games, he has eight goals and 27 points. He is averaging over a point per game for the first time in his OHL career, so his development is heading in the right direction.
There would be some risk moving on from Ritchie. Yet, Lindholm would give the Avalanche another legitimate two-six center, so they certainly could consider it, especially if he's willing to sign an extension.
Perhaps Ritchie and the Avalanche's 2024 first-round pick could be enough to get Lindholm to Colorado.
Oskar Olausson
Another prospect whom the Flames could consider pursuing is Oskar Olausson. The Avalanche's 2021 first-round selection is developing a bit slowly, but he still has the time and tools to become a full-time NHL player.
Olausson has appeared in 29 games this season with the Colorado Eagles, posting six goals and 11 points. While his 2023-24 season has been fairly underwhelming thus far, he has the potential to turn things around. Perhaps a change of scenery to Calgary could be the spark he needs to do just that.
In a mock trade involving Olausson, the Avs would likely need to also part ways with their 2024 first-round pick and their 2025 third-round pick.
Bowen Byram
If the Flames want an NHL-caliber player in exchange for Lindholm, defenseman Bowen Byram could be their top target. This is especially so when noting that fellow left-shot defenseman Noah Hanifin is a pending UFA, and there's a good chance that he will not be back next season.
The Avalanche also have strong depth on the left side, with Devon Toews and Samuel Girard on their roster. Their need for a top-six center is larger than having three top-four left-shot defensemen, so Byram may be a dark horse to watch in potential Lindholm talks.
In the end, the Avalanche have several assets to work with. Besides Ritchie, Olausson, and Byram, they have both their 2024 and 2025 first-round picks. As a result, the Avs are in a prime place to be big-time buyers and bring in a high-impact center like Lindholm.
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