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Two years in the past, after Elias Lindholm completed because the runner-up in Selke Trophy balloting, Calgary Flames government Craig Conroy was (politely) chastising this explicit reporter as a result of he believed the writers had voted for the mistaken man.
With all due respect to Patrice Bergeron, he insisted Lindholm was the NHL’s finest defensive ahead that season. He hasn’t modified that stance.
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The purpose being that Conroy, a trusted two-way centre throughout his personal taking part in profession and now the final supervisor on the Saddledome, is one in all Lindholm’s largest followers. That didn’t cease him Wednesday from buying and selling him away.
In case you’re on the lookout for proof that Conroy is severe about retooling the Flames’ roster, look no additional than this newest transaction. Lindholm, who was speculated to signify the Calgary-based crew this week on the 2024 NHL All-Star Recreation, was swapped to the rival Vancouver Canucks in change for a considerable haul — winger Andrei Kuzmenko, defence prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo and a pair of draft decisions, together with a first-round decide this summer time.
Lindholm is about to be an unrestricted free agent in July. Extension talks with the Flames fizzled out early within the season, which is why the 29-year-old pivot was being billed as the largest fish out there previous to the March 8 commerce deadline.
That distinction might now be shared by defence companions Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, who could possibly be subsequent to obtain a ‘Good luck in _______’ name from Conroy. The Flames’ normal supervisor will prioritize future belongings in these talks, too.
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“There have been quite a few groups concerned and a pair days in the past, Vancouver known as and actually turned it up and needed to get one thing accomplished,” Conroy advised Postmedia after finishing Wednesday’s commerce with the Canucks, wherein he additionally fetched a conditional fourth-round decide within the 2024 NHL Draft. “I reached again out to all the opposite groups and weighed all my choices, and we got here to some extent the place we stated, ‘OK, that is the very best deal for the Calgary Flames.’
“If we didn’t assume it was the proper deal, we might have waited. However we really feel this was a good deal, deal for each groups.”
Make no mistake, the very best participant on this deal is the man headed to the West Coast.
Lindholm, although, was going to be a goner. He’s reportedly looking for roughly $9 million per 12 months on his subsequent contract, an enormous hit for a man who’s having an underwhelming offensive marketing campaign.
Kuzmenko is at present on a chilly streak of his personal however is an intriguing add, a man who sniped 39 final season earlier than taking over residence in Rick Tocchet’s doghouse. Of late, he wasn’t even a lineup lock for the Canucks, healthy-scratched on a number of events.
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Brzustewicz, a 19-year-old righty, has been piling up factors on behalf of the Kitchener Rangers, main the Ontario Hockey League with 61 assists in 47 outings to this point. (“I don’t need to put strain on him, however we’re excited with the place his recreation goes,” Conroy gushed.)
For Jurmo, nonetheless skating again dwelling in Finland, probably the most fascinating stat is his measurement. The 21-year-old is listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 lb.
“There’s no denying I really like the best way Lindy performs,” Conroy stated. “He’s all the things I would like in a centre. He does all of the little stuff that some individuals don’t discover, and that’s what makes him particular. I nonetheless assume he ought to have received the Selke that 12 months. I used to be not proud of you.
“And I just like the particular person. I can’t thank Lindy sufficient for all the things he has accomplished for the group and what he has meant. I take a look at him and assume he’s lots higher model of myself, and that’s why I’ve at all times appreciated how he performs and perhaps I by no means felt like he bought sufficient credit score. However with as a lot curiosity as there was for Lindy, I believe it reveals that the remainder of the league is aware of the type of worth he has and brings to a workforce.”
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On Wednesday, Conroy confirmed that he’s able to make main strikes. Together with his workforce sitting 12th within the Western Convention at 22-22-5, he proved he received’t be sidetracked by the chase for an unlikely playoff berth.
There have been even some rumblings that Tanev could possibly be included on this second swap of the season between the Flames and Canucks. Don’t rule out a 3rd. (Nikita Zadorov, to refresh your reminiscence, was first to go.)
Kuzmenko, who’s signed by means of the tip of the 2024-25 marketing campaign at a mean annual worth of US$5.5 million, needed to waive his restricted no-trade clause to approve the commerce to Calgary.
He gave the thumbs-up after a chat with Conroy and Flames coach Ryan Huska.
“The one factor with Andrei, I believe he needs to really feel needed,” Conroy stated of Kuzmenko, who arrives with solely eight tallies on his season stat-sheet. “He’s an offensive man. He needs to be put in offensive conditions right here. He loves the power-play and it appears like he likes to scores targets.
“If we are able to get him on the power-play and get him feeling good … It may be just a little little bit of an adjustment, however he has a skill-set that we simply didn’t have.”
What they don’t have now’s a No. 1 centre.
Lindholm, little doubt, leaves a gaping gap. It should have crushed Conroy to ship him out.
It does, nonetheless, inform you numerous about his dedication to reshaping this Flames’ roster.
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
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