Vancouver Canucks acquire Lindholm | CityNews Vancouver

The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forward Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Andrei Kuzmenko, prospects Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, and a first-round and conditional fourth-round pick of the 2024 NHL Draft.

The 29-year-old centre and alternate captain has nine goals and 32 points in 49 games this season for the Flames, who are sitting five points out of a wild-card spot.

Lindholm joined the Flames via trade from the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2018 off-season. In his six-year tenure in Calgary, he’s scored 148 goals and 357 points. He was one of many high-profile Flames players set to hit free agency after this season, a list that also includes Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev.

“In acquiring Elias Lindholm we feel that he vastly improves our hockey team,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “He is a proven front line performer and will give head coach Rick Tocchet some more options when putting together our top two lines.”

Kuzmenko joined the Canucks as an undrafted free agent from the KHL in Russia ahead of the 2022-23 season. He had an outstanding rookie campaign, potting 39 goals and 74 points in 81 games, which earned him a two-year, $11 million contract, set to expire at the end of next season.

The 27-year-old has struggled in his sophomore campaign, scoring just eight goals and 21 points in 43 games this season. He has been a healthy scratch for the Canucks six times this year.

Brzustewicz, a right-shot defenceman currently playing for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, where he has 69 points in 47 games.