On this week's episode of In The Booth, Brendan Batchelor and Randip Janda record an emergency show after the Canucks acquisition of Elias Lindholm on Wednesday evening. They spend the whole show breaking down the trade and answering listener questions.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
It's a special EMERGENCY EDITION of Sekeres and Price LIVE, as Matt and Blake break down the big trade with Jeff Paterson that saw the Vancouver Canucks acquire Elias Lindholm for Andrei Kuzmenko, a 2024 first-round pick, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.
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Welcome to Toronto … and Vancouver?
On Wednesday night, Elias Lindholm landed in Toronto for All-Star Weekend as a member of the Canucks. The Flames traded the veteran forward to Vancouver in exchange for forward Andrei Kuzmenko, defensive prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, the Canucks' 2024 first-round pick, and a conditional 2024 fourth-rounder. (If Vancouver advances to the Western Conference Final, the fourth becomes a third.)
It's a reunion of sorts for Lindholm. Canucks president Jim Rutherford selected the 6-foot-1, 202-pound Swede fifth overall at the 2013 NHL Draft.
Let's take a look at the deal from both perspectives.
For starters, props to the Canucks for being aggressive on the trade market.
Other contenders could have gobbled up the marquee names and forced Vancouver into Plan B or C. Instead, it's Vancouver - unexpectedly first in the Western Conference with 71 points through 49 games - setting the tone.
So, from a very high level, a big swing like this, this early, makes sense.
What takes the trade from "cool, they're being aggressive" to "oh, this might actually put them over the top" is the fit between player and team. Lindholm, a 29-year-old unrestricted free agent, was exactly what the Canucks needed: a right-handed center to slot in comfortably behind superstar Elias Pettersson.
Lindholm can absorb some of the defensive load Pettersson's carrying on a night-to-night basis. A 55.5% faceoff guy this year, he can help the Canucks improve their 16th-ranked success rate in the circle. He can also boost the penalty kill, which is tied for 15th. As a bonus, there's a spot for Lindholm on the top power play unit (sorry, Pius Suter, your time on PP1 is effectively over).
Perhaps best of all, Lindholm can go back to skating with high-end producers. He scored a career-high 42 goals in 2021-22 alongside Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau. Since that trio broke up, offense has been harder to come by. Part of that's on Lindholm. Part of it's on Yegor Sharangovich, Andrew Mangiapane, and Jonathan Huberdeau being his most common linemates.
We'll see how Canucks coach Rick Tocchet moves bodies around, but there's a strong chance Lindholm starts with JT Miller, who's fourth in the league in points, and 30-goal man Brock Boeser. Or maybe Lindholm, who finished second in Selke Trophy voting two years ago, ends up on Pettersson's line.
Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin weren't gifted Lindholm, of course. Trading a first, a third or fourth, two prospects, and Kuzmenko is not nothing for a pending UFA. Yet, that's what's required to reel in one of the best forwards available five weeks ahead of the trade deadline on March 8.
Amazingly, the Canucks gained a bit of financial flexibility here. Lindholm's $4.85-million cap hit is $650,000 less than Kuzmenko's $5.5 million.
Grade: A
This swap is a pure volume play for Flames GM Craig Conroy. None of the five pieces coming to Calgary qualify as a premium asset - which, on one hand, is unfortunate, and on the other, is not the end of the world during a retool.
Given the Canucks' success, the first-rounder will be in the 20s or 30s.
Kuzmenko is a flier. He went from bagging 39 goals as a rookie alongside Pettersson to eight goals in 43 games so far as a sophomore. He seemed to find a permanent home in Tocchet's doghouse. A change of scenery could do Kuzmenko good. If not, the sharp-shooting Russian winger is a UFA in 2025.
Brzustewicz is a legitimate NHL prospect. He leads all OHL defenseman in points this season - no small feat. A smart, right-shot puck-mover, the 19-year-old is closer stylistically to the cerebral Rasmus Sandin than dynamic Cale Makar. Brzustewicz could blossom into a top-four D-man down the road.
Jurmo, a 6-foot-3 Finnish blue-liner, is a long shot to make a serious impact in the NHL, and the other pick - a third- or fourth-rounder - is a lottery ticket.
Again, no asset in the package blows you away. But a few have potential.
Lindholm wasn't re-signing in Calgary and didn't have an extension in place with Vancouver before the deal. So, realistically, the ceiling on the return was never going to be exceptionally high. The Flames could have waited until closer to the deadline to see if something better materialized, but Conroy also has Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, and (possibly) Jacob Markstrom to shop.
The overall haul is, in a word, solid - especially given the circumstances.
Grade: B-
John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).
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Rick Dhaliwal joins Sat and Israel to discuss the Elias Lindholm trade. Dhaliwal suggests the Canucks aren't done making moves with the possibility of trading for Chris Tanev. The guys analyze the trade, if giving up this haul is worth it for a potential rental, line combinations, if the team will continue to add and more.
This podcast was produced by Elan Chark
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
An hour of madness! Sat and Israel react to the breaking news of Elias Lindholm potentially on the move to the Vancouver Canucks. The guys react to what the potential trade could look like. Would Lindholm be a big upgrade? Randip Janda joins the show. He talks Lindholm's fit on the Canucks and his versatility as a dual-threat. As the news unfolds, the guys react to potential players that could be included in the trade. In the third segment, the trade is official. Sat and Israel break down the full trade details.
This podcast was produced by Elan Chark
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Fresh off of his new extension with the team, Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin joins Sat and Israel Fehr. Patrik is asked about Nikita Zadorov, Andrei Kuzmenko, development in Abbotsford, Rutherford's mentorship, potential trades to improve the current team, the all-star break and much more.
This Podcast was produced by Elan Chark
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks are engaging in intensified trade talks about forward Elias Lindholm, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Andrei Kuzmenko could be part of the package being sent the other way, according to ESPN's Kevin Weekes.
Lindholm is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $4.85 million.
The 29-year-old center has produced 32 points in 49 games this season. His best season came in 2021-22 when he tallied 42 goals and 40 assists in 82 games while finishing as the Selke Trophy runner up for his defensive efforts.
Lindholm would give the Canucks added depth down the middle of the ice. Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Pius Suter, Teddy Blueger, and Nils Aman are Vancouver's current center options, although Pettersson and Miller have occasionally played on the same line.
Kuzmenko, 27, recorded 39 goals and 74 points in his rookie campaign last year, but he's struggling in 2023-24 with just eight goals and 13 assists in 43 contests. He's in the first season of a two-year deal carrying a $5.5-million cap hit.
Canucks general manger Patrik Allvin and Flames GM Craig Conroy already made one trade with each other this season when Nikita Zadorov was sent from Calgary to Vancouver.
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Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli is expected to miss eight weeks due to a calf laceration, the team announced Wednesday.
A skate cut Fantilli's leg during Sunday's loss to the Seattle Kraken.
The injury halts what's been an excellent rookie season for the 19-year-old, who was drafted third overall by Columbus last June. Fantilli has been one of the Blue Jackets' only bright spots this year, tallying 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games. He's tied for third among rookies in goals and sits fourth in points.
The Blue Jackets won't begin life without their young star until Feb. 10, when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning to begin the second half of the season.
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The NHL's best and brightest are set to take part in the league's annual All-Star showcase beginning Thursday in Toronto.
Here's all you need to know about the Feb. 1-4 festivities, on and off the ice:
The party is jam-packed to kick things off (watch on Sportsnet in Canada and ESPN/ESPN+ in the United States, all times ET):
New format. Twelve All-Stars. Eight events. For $1 million. Tune in at 7 p.m.
Round 1:
Round 2: The top eight after Round 1 will advance to a one-on-one challenge, with the goalie of their choice.
Final: The top six will compete in an obstacle course to determine the most skilled All-Star.
Check out full skills competition details here.
The tournament begins at 3 p.m. Four divisional squads, 11 All-Stars a side, and one will be crowned champion.
Check out the NHL News section for Saturday's tourney results and all the All-Star headlines.
Want more hockey? The NHL and Toronto have you covered, with downtown's Metro Toronto Convention Centre's south building being transformed into a magical, 300,000 square-foot hockey heaven. There'll be NHL Hall of Famers and alumni hanging around, along with Gritty and his mascot brethren, plus interactive games, and much more.
Make sure your phone is fully charged: you're going to need your camera to take a selfie with the Stanley Cup, and when you run into a couple of All-Stars.
Fan Fair schedule 📅
Feb. 1: 2-9 p.m.
Feb. 2: 1-10 p.m.
Feb. 3: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Feb. 4: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Check out the NHL's website for more on Fan Fair, including a full schedule of events across the four-day bonanza.
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