Elias Lindholm trade proposal: 6 teams that could land Flames center

As the Calgary Flames look to keep pace in the Western Conference wild-card race, increased attention is being focused on pending unrestricted free agents and potential trade assets. There may be no player in the spotlight as much as Flames first-line center Elias Lindholm.

The 29-year-old is in the final year of a six-year contract with a $4.85 million cap hit. Before training camp, Lindholm told the media he wanted to remain in Calgary. Since then, however, there has been no significant progress in terms of negotiations. Lindholm's play wasn't ideal, either, despite being named an All-Star. He has two goals in his last 25 games, but still has 15 points in that span with assists. He remains the top player on Chris Johnston's trade committee and could serve as a top-six center for a contending team to trade for him.

If the Flames were to trade Lindholm, they would need a top draft pick, a prospect and/or a young player who could play in the lineup sooner in return.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman and Julian McKenzie take a closer look at the potential return on a trade for Lindholm if the Flames pursue a trade for Lindholm ahead of the March 8 trade deadline. did.

For this exercise, we used last season's trade between the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks that involved Bo Horvat. The Canucks acquired a roster player with several years of control left, a great prospect, and a conditional first-round pick in 2023. Looking at comparable contracts to Lindholm last summer, Horvat's AAV was $8.5 million (signed after a trade). It was a close battle.

If the Flames try to find a similar return for Lindholm, here are some trade suggestions that could make sense. The goal was to make a trade that, while not at a premium, featured two strong future assets and a roster player.

Mackenzie: If the Flames can acquire Matt Poitras and a first-round pick to make up for the first-round pick they might lose in the Sean Monahan trade in 2025, that wouldn't be a bad return. Poitras has shown some flashes in his 19-year-old NHL debut season and could excite the Flames fan base. But a player of his age will still need patience. Trent Frederick is an NHL player the Flames could use in the middle six for secondary scoring.

Pronman: The Bruins likely won't like parting ways with Poitras, who found success in the NHL at age 19, but he's one of the team's few desirable young players and has increased his stock this season. He's not very big or fast, but he's a very skilled playmaker. The Bruins' 2024 first-round pick belongs to Detroit as part of the Tyler Bertuzzi deal, so the Flames would have to acquire a pick here in 2025 instead. The late pick hurts a bit, but it still feels like a competitive package, depending on how highly Calgary values ​​Poitras.

Mackenzie: I'm intrigued to see the reaction from Flames fans who want Bowen Byram as part of this trade package. Instead of a defenseman, why not consider a package that would give the team a promising right-handed center and a right-handed forward named Logan O'Connor who could play in the team's middle six? Callum Ritchie's skating ability and skill could make him very attractive to the Flames.

Pronman: Colorado has limited prospect capital, but acquired two first-round picks in Ritchie and LD Mikhail Gulyaev last year. Ritchie would be their main trade asset, as NHL teams are likely to have less interest in defensemen signed to the KHL. Richie is a good-sized forward who can skate, and while his effort can be inconsistent at times, he is very skilled. O'Connor is a solid player, but they have a lot of solid forwards, so someone needs to go for roster spots and money.

Pronman: The Stars probably have the most attractive package because they only have a few quality prospects, but their prospects are very good. I don't think they'll part ways with forward Logan Stankoven or defenseman Liane Bixel, so the question is whether they'll add Mavrik Bourke. He's having a great second year in the AHL and is one of the better forwards in the league. He's very skilled and intelligent, but he's a small forward and isn't blessed with foot speed, so Dallas may be betting on how much his offense can contribute to the NHL.

Mackenzie: Burke is a bit bigger than Stankoven, but he's still a small forward, a player many Flames fans lamented the team leaving in favor of William Stromgren in the 2021 draft. But if the skill is appealing enough, it might be worth it. This season, he's been as productive as Stankoven at the AHL level. Sam Steel is still a young enough player that his better numbers may still be waiting, but he looks suited for a bottom-six spot.

vancouver canucks

Mackenzie: Andrei Kuzmenko and Nils Häglander have both been the subject of trade rumors. If the Flames can get both, it will rejuvenate the team. However, they did not immediately try to address the need for the center. Even if they do get a 2024 first-round pick, I don't know if this package will entice the Flames compared to other teams pitching here.

Pronman: The Canucks offer the purest talent in their contract with Furst and Kuzmenko, a good but great young player in Hoaglander, but Calgary also has Kuzmenko's subpar contract coming out of their hands. trying to steal it. Hoaglander is a very skilled and edge-playing player, but he's also a shaky skater, especially for an undersized winger, which is why he's had such an eventful NHL career thus far.

Pronman: Vegas has little to offer in terms of potential money, but the only player the Golden Knights have, David Edstrom, is the one I rated the highest of the potential options in this article. He's a player. He is a 6-foot-3 center who can skate, provides value on both ends of the rink, and could potentially be a solid NHL center. Therefore, Vegas is offering a second-round pick in exchange for a first-round pick in this exchange.

Mackenzie: Edstrom looks like a player destined for an NHL future, but he's probably more of a defensive-minded center than an offensive powerhouse. But he could be the ideal student for Mikael Backlund to mold and coach when he's ready. If he's as good as Pronman says he is, that explains why he's a second-round pick instead of a first-round pick. Brett Howden is also a bottom-six player, but he'll bring energy and he's got a show-off coupling on his finger.

Pronman: Winnipeg has made a ton of forward picks in recent years, so the Jets are offering Chazz Lucius here. He's been up and down since being drafted in 2021. His skating isn't the best, but he has immense skill and talent. Natural scoring ability. Mason Appleton is also a solid NHL regular winger with size and skill.

Mackenzie: Lucius missed time earlier this season with a concussion, which explains where his AHL stats are now, but his upside potential is worth considering. Appleton, on the other hand, has a proven track record as a right-shot secondary scorer, and his ability will help him fit into the Flames' lineup.

(Top photo of Elias Lindholm: Sergei Belski / USA Today)