Cross long-rumored Bruins target Elias Lindholm off the wish list, at least until the offseason.
Skate Pod Mailbag: Bruins trade ideas
The Calgary Flames traded the 29-year-old center to the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday in exchange for forward Andrei Kuzmenko, defense prospect Hunter Brzustewicz, defense prospect Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick.
So... that is a lot. Kuzmenko, 27, was having a down year in Vancouver (21 points in 43 games), but he did put up 39 goals and 74 points just a year ago. Brzustewicz, a 2023 third-round pick, looks like a real prospect, as he is currently third in the OHL in scoring, first among defensemen.
You're probably wondering what an equivalent Bruins package might have looked like. The roster player might have been Trent Frederic or Jake DeBrusk. The lead prospect probably would have needed to be Matt Poitras, Mason Lohrei or Fabian Lysell. The first-round pick would have needed to be in 2025, because the Bruins don't own a 2024 first. And then there still would have been another piece or two on top of that.
As of Wednesday night, there was reportedly no extension in place for Lindholm, who is in the final year of his contract.
It also has to be noted that Lindholm himself is having a down year, with 32 points (9 goals, 23 assists) in 49 games. He had 64 points last season after posting a career-high 82 in 2021-22 while centering a line that had Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau on it.
Frederic himself has just three points fewer than Lindholm, and five more goals. Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha, the Bruins' current top two centers, have 42 and 30 points, respectively.
Again, it's an awful lot to give up for a good, maybe very good, but not quite great player. Personally, I can't blame general manager Don Sweeney at all for not matching or beating that price.
On the other hand, it's very possible that Lindholm will be the only legitimate first- or second-line center to get traded before the March 8 deadline, and now he's off the board. The Canucks, who are currently tied with the Bruins for the best record in the NHL, clearly decided they needed Lindholm and were willing to go above and beyond to get him.