Article content material
“It will likely be enjoyable.”
Elias Lindholm stated these phrases with a giant smile on his face. You may inform he meant it.
Article content material
The Swede had simply been requested about taking part in his former teammates with the Calgary Flames for the primary time since he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks and the grin crept onto his face earlier than he even answered.
Clearly, Lindholm is legitimately wanting ahead to seeing his previous pals and teammates.
Commercial 2
Article content material
There’s no animosity right here. Not from Lindholm. He’s only a man who spent almost six seasons with the Flames and is with a brand new workforce now, however clearly nonetheless holds numerous affection for the Flames and his teammates.
“Clearly, I spent quite a lot of time there and have quite a lot of pals there so it is going to be enjoyable to see all of them once more,” Lindholm informed reporters in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon. “Clearly, had quite a lot of good years in Calgary and it’ll at all times have a particular place in my coronary heart.”
Set to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent in the summertime, it grew to become clear to Flames GM Craig Conroy that Lindholm wasn’t more likely to re-sign with the group.
That led to Conroy finally dealing Lindholm to the Canucks on the finish of January for a bundle that included winger Andrei Kuzmenko, defensive prospect Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a first-round decide and a conditional fourth-round decide within the 2024 NHL Draft.
That bundle is proof of the excessive regard for Lindholm’s expertise as a two-way centre across the league, even when his numbers have dropped considerably since he scored 42 targets and added 40 assists when he was centring a line with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in 2021-22.
Midday Information Roundup
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
Lindholm entered Saturday’s recreation with 13 targets and 27 helpers in 70 video games this season.
Nonetheless, although, no one ever questioned Lindholm’s effort on the ice for the Flames, even after it grew to become clear that the 2 sides would wish to half methods earlier than the NHL’s commerce deadline this season.
He remained a useful penalty-killer and a centre who may play in any scenario for the Flames and was fashionable within the locker-room.
And it’ll inevitably be unusual for his former teammates to go up in opposition to Lindholm on Saturday night time in Vancouver.
“It will likely be bizarre, after all, similar to once we performed (Noah Hanifin final week),” stated Flames captain Mikael Backlund. “It’s completely different whenever you’re teammates for six years and hastily they’re on the opposite aspect. It’s at all times completely different and slightly bit bizarre, nevertheless it’s going to be a enjoyable problem. Lindy is a very good participant, it’s going to be enjoyable to face him.”
It’s price together with the standard caveat that every one niceties can be left on the door when the Flames and Canucks take the ice. That’s simply the way it goes on the skilled degree, the place gamers have a tendency to maneuver round and also you play former teammates on a reasonably common foundation.
Commercial 4
Article content material
However Saturday night time was nonetheless set to be particular for Lindholm. He missed Friday’s Canucks observe for a upkeep day, however was again on the ice for Saturday’s morning skate.
It hasn’t been a wholly clean trip for the Swede for the reason that commerce, after all. He’s scored 4 occasions and added 4 assists in 23 video games, however he hasn’t potted a purpose in 15 video games and was even included in commerce rumours proper earlier than the deadline — though no one is aware of for positive how shut the Canucks ever got here to really shifting him out.
The deal with Saturday will serving to the Canucks win and additional solidify their place atop the Pacific Division.
However there’s no query Lindholm is wanting ahead to taking part in the Flames for the primary time for the reason that commerce. The smile on his face as he spoke concerning the recreation confirmed it.
“I’ve quite a lot of pals there, so it is going to be enjoyable to play them,” Lindholm stated. “Shall be slightly extra completely different going again to Calgary to play them, however this can be a mini-step and it is going to be enjoyable to be on the market and battling and see all of the faces once more.”
daustin@postmedia.com
Article content material
