The Vancouver Canucks have acquired ahead Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in trade for ahead Andrei Kuzmenko, prospects Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo and a first-round and conditional fourth-round decide of the 2024 NHL Draft.
The 29-year-old centre and alternate captain has 9 targets and 32 factors in 49 video games this season for the Flames, who’re sitting 5 factors out of a wild-card spot.
Lindholm joined the Flames by way of commerce from the Carolina Hurricanes within the 2018 low season. In his six-year tenure in Calgary, he’s scored 148 targets and 357 factors. He was one in every of many high-profile Flames gamers set to hit free company after this season, a listing that additionally contains Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev.
“In buying Elias Lindholm we really feel that he vastly improves our hockey staff,” Canucks normal supervisor Patrik Allvin mentioned. “He’s a confirmed entrance line performer and can give head coach Rick Tocchet some extra choices when placing collectively our prime two strains.”
Kuzmenko joined the Canucks as an undrafted free agent from the KHL in Russia forward of the 2022-23 season. He had an impressive rookie marketing campaign, potting 39 targets and 74 factors in 81 video games, which earned him a two-year, $11 million contract, set to run out on the finish of subsequent season.
The 27-year-old has struggled in his sophomore marketing campaign, scoring simply eight targets and 21 factors in 43 video games this season. He has been a wholesome scratch for the Canucks six instances this yr.
Brzustewicz, a right-shot defenceman at present enjoying for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, the place he has 69 factors in 47 video games.