Flames all-star Elias Lindholm departs in trade to Canucks
The Calgary Flames traded all-star Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.
In return, the Flames received forward Andrei Kuzmenko, defencemen Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round draft pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick.
The 29-year-old Lindholm joins the NHL-leading Canucks having posted nine goals and 23 assists in 49 games for the Flames so far in 2023-24.
Lindholm was traded to Calgary in 2018 by Carolina and enjoyed the best years of his 11-year career with the Flames, including a career-best 42-goal season in 2021-22.
Kuzmenko, 27, has struggled this season, with only eight goals and 21 assists in 43 games so far and has been a healthy scratch multiple times.
Kuzmenko signed a two-year, US$11 million contract extension in January 2023.
The forward has been open about his point production struggles this season and has been moved up and down lines by Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
Tocchet labelled Kuzmenko's play during this season as just "OK," and says the forward needs "to start to play a little harder."
"I need to be better, this I understand. That's why I haven't played (as much) this season," he said in November.
Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, who signed a three-year extension on Wednesday, paid tribute to Kuzmenko's work in Vancouver.
“First of all, I want to thank Kuzy for all that he did for the Vancouver Canucks. Andrei worked hard at improving his game and trying to adjust to life as a pro in North America,” said Allvin in a statement.
“In acquiring Elias Lindholm we feel that he vastly improves our hockey team. He is a proven front-line performer and will give head coach Rick Tocchet some more options when putting together our top two lines.”
Lindholm is an unrestricted free agent.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs files motion to dismiss some claims in a sexual assault lawsuit
Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs pushed back against a woman's lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault, filing a motion on Friday to dismiss some claims that were not under law when the alleged incident occurred.