Trade Grades: Lindholm To Vancouver, Kuzmenko To Calgary
Elias Lindholm has been traded to the Canucks, but who won the trade? That’s exactly what we’re here to talk about. I’m just going to skip the small talk and get to the trade grades. I got at least 10 more blogs to do today so let’s go.
Canucks Acquire Elias Lindholm: Grade B+
On paper, Lindholm appears to be the perfect fit. He’s your Bo Horvat replacement and a more than capable number two center. Lindholm is having a bit of a down season but should experience an offensive spark to his game skating with better linemates in Vancouver. Don’t forget, Lindholm had 82 points in 2021 when Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk were his linemates. He also brings high-quality defense to the table.
This could be the missing piece to a Stanley Cup trophy. With Andrei Kuzmeno buried on the fourth line because Rick Tocchet hates him, Vancouver really didn’t give up much. A 2024 first round pick and a D prospect. That’s well worth the price if the Canucks win the Cup. This is the type of move to get you there.
The only reason I can’t give it an A is if Lindholm leaves in free agency. This could be a pure rental. Obviously, if the Canucks only get a half-season out of Lindholm, that’s a tougher pill to swallow. Still, you’re getting off the Kuzmenko contract either way.
Flames Acquire Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, first-round pick, and a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft: Grade B-
Obviously, not the greatest return in the world for a player that you gave up Dougie Hamilton and Adam Fox to go get years ago. Kuzmenko is a total flier at this point. After 39 goals last season, the Russian forward had just eight this year. Tocchet healthy scratched him multiple times for making sins on the ice. If Calgary can rebuild his value and ship him off, then this trade looks better. I just don’t buy that’s going to be the case. Especially because Kuzmenko is one of the slowest skaters in the NHL.
We’ll see what the first round pick turns into. Where Vancouver is going to be picking, odds are that player turns into nothing. This trade likely comes down to Brzustewicz. The 2023 third-round pick is lighting up the OHL with 94 points in 67 games. That’s as a defenseman…
Prospects are prospects until proven otherwise. Brzustewicz appears to be a good puck mover but he’s undersized and may top out as a powerplay specialist. Time will tell there.
Overall, it’s not a terrible haul. Just a lot of what-ifs attached to it.
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