Breaking Down Newly Acquired Elias Lindholm's Fit On The Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks acquired Lindholm from the Flames on Wednesday night.
Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - Breaking Down Newly Acquired Elias Lindholm's Fit On The Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks completed a blockbuster trade on Wednesday night, acquiring Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The trade improves Vancouver's depth a center while freeing up just $650,000 in cap space. A pending unrestricted free agent, the 29-year-old has 32 points in 49 games this season and was selected to participate in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game as the Flames representative.
Here is The Hockey News' Calgary Flames reporter Steve Macfarlane on what the Canucks are getting in Lindholm:
"The Canucks are getting a stellar player in Lindholm, who hasn't produced great numbers this season but is two removed from a 40-goal campaign and a runner-up nod in the Selke voting. The challenges the team dealt with last year and the circumstances of his contract and impending trade seemed to weigh him down this year. I'd bet the change of scenery will re-ignite him offensively. He's a hard worker and earns his goals and points through effort and intelligence. He has a quick and accurate release and should fit in fine with the dynamic offensive players in Vancouver while also helping to shut down top weapons on the other side."
Lindholm has quite a few connections to the Canucks. He was drafted fifth overall in 2013 by Jim Rutherford while with the Carolina Hurricanes and played with Nikita Zadorov earlier before he was traded to Vancouver. He also has some history playing on the same team as Elias Pettersson, as both represented Sweden at the 2019 World Championship. Add on the fact that he has played more regular season games against the Canucks than any other team in the NHL, and it is clear Vancouver is getting a player they know inside and out.
The acquisition of Lindholm allows the Cancuks to be more flexible with their lineup and minute distribution. Head coach Rick Tocchet can elect to keep Pettersson, J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser together while leaving Lindholm as the second center or split up the lotto and make a more balanced top six. Based on his history, Lindholm can be a complimentary piece when partnered with a high-skill player, meaning he should be able to produce if partnered with Pettersson.
Another area that should help Vancouver is that Lindholm is a right-handed centerman. Currently, all four players that primarily take faceoffs for the Canucks are left-handed. With a win rate of 55.5% on 547 faceoffs, Lindholm will most likely be used in crucial faceoff situations either late in games or on the penalty kill.
Speaking of the penalty kill, this is another that should improve with the addition of Lindholm. He has finished in the top ten for Selke voting each of the last two seasons and sits tenth in the league among forwards with 116:48 minutes so far this year. Having a player of his calibre should help balance out the minutes on the penalty kill while also providing Tocchet with an additional player he can trust in a shorthanded situation.
The most significant factor in why this trade should work out for Vancouver is the trust factor. Lindholm is the type of player who will play a two-way game and is arguably a better fit in Tocchet's style than Kuzmenko. While the Canucks gave up a lot to get him, this is a deal that could work out exceptionally well for Vancouver as they build for a potential run to the Stanley Cup.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
