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Two years in the past, after Elias Lindholm completed because the runner-up in Selke Trophy balloting, Calgary Flames govt Craig Conroy was (politely) chastising this explicit reporter as a result of he believed the writers had voted for the fallacious man.
With all due respect to Patrice Bergeron, he insisted Lindholm was the NHL’s greatest defensive ahead that season. He hasn’t modified that stance.
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The purpose being that Conroy, a trusted two-way centre throughout his personal enjoying profession and now the overall supervisor on the Saddledome, is considered one of Lindholm’s largest followers. That didn’t cease him Wednesday from buying and selling him away.
When you’re on the lookout for proof that Conroy is critical about retooling the Flames’ roster, look no additional than this newest transaction. Lindholm, who was alleged to signify the Calgary-based crew this week on the 2024 NHL All-Star Sport, was swapped to the rival Vancouver Canucks in change for a considerable haul — winger Andrei Kuzmenko, defence prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo and a pair of draft selections, together with a first-round decide this summer time.
Lindholm is ready to be an unrestricted free agent in July. Extension talks with the Flames fizzled out early within the season, which is why the 29-year-old pivot was being billed as the most important fish obtainable previous to the March 8 commerce deadline.
That distinction might now be shared by defence companions Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, who may very well be subsequent to obtain a ‘Good luck in _______’ name from Conroy. The Flames’ basic supervisor will prioritize future property in these talks, too.
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“There have been quite a few groups concerned and a pair days in the past, Vancouver referred to as and actually turned it up and needed to get one thing accomplished,” Conroy instructed Postmedia after finishing Wednesday’s commerce with the Canucks, through which he additionally fetched a conditional fourth-round decide within the 2024 NHL Draft. “I reached again out to all the opposite groups and weighed all my choices, and we got here to a degree the place we mentioned, ‘OK, that is the perfect deal for the Calgary Flames.’
“If we didn’t assume it was the suitable deal, we’d have waited. However we really feel this was a good deal, an excellent deal for each groups.”
Make no mistake, the perfect participant on this deal is the man headed to the West Coast.
Lindholm, although, was going to be a goner. He’s reportedly looking for roughly $9 million per 12 months on his subsequent contract, an enormous hit for a man who’s having an underwhelming offensive marketing campaign.
Kuzmenko is at present on a chilly streak of his personal however is an intriguing add, a man who sniped 39 final season earlier than taking on residence in Rick Tocchet’s doghouse. Of late, he wasn’t even a lineup lock for the Canucks, healthy-scratched on a number of events.
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Brzustewicz, a 19-year-old righty, has been piling up factors on behalf of the Kitchener Rangers, main the Ontario Hockey League with 61 assists in 47 outings up to now. (“I don’t wish to put stress on him, however we’re excited with the place his sport goes,” Conroy gushed.)
For Jurmo, nonetheless skating again residence in Finland, probably the most fascinating stat is his dimension. The 21-year-old is listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 lb.
“There’s no denying I really like the best way Lindy performs,” Conroy mentioned. “He’s every part I need in a centre. He does all of the little stuff that some individuals don’t discover, and that’s what makes him particular. I nonetheless assume he ought to have received the Selke that 12 months. I used to be not pleased with you.
“And I just like the individual. I can’t thank Lindy sufficient for every part he has accomplished for the group and what he has meant. I have a look at him and assume he’s so much higher model of myself, and that’s why I’ve at all times appreciated how he performs and possibly I by no means felt like he bought sufficient credit score. However with as a lot curiosity as there was for Lindy, I believe it reveals that the remainder of the league is aware of the sort of worth he has and brings to a staff.”
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On Wednesday, Conroy confirmed that he’s able to make main strikes. Together with his staff sitting 12th within the Western Convention at 22-22-5, he proved he received’t be sidetracked by the chase for an unlikely playoff berth.
There have been even some rumblings that Tanev may very well be included on this second swap of the season between the Flames and Canucks. Don’t rule out a 3rd. (Nikita Zadorov, to refresh your reminiscence, was first to go.)
Kuzmenko, who’s signed by the top of the 2024-25 marketing campaign at a mean annual worth of US$5.5 million, needed to waive his restricted no-trade clause to approve the commerce to Calgary.
He gave the thumbs-up after a chat with Conroy and Flames coach Ryan Huska.
“The one factor with Andrei, I believe he needs to really feel needed,” Conroy mentioned of Kuzmenko, who arrives with solely eight tallies on his season stat-sheet. “He’s an offensive man. He needs to be put in offensive conditions right here. He loves the power-play and it seems like he likes to scores targets.
“If we are able to get him on the power-play and get him feeling good … It is perhaps a bit of little bit of an adjustment, however he has a skill-set that we simply didn’t have.”
What they don’t have now could be a No. 1 centre.
Lindholm, little doubt, leaves a gaping gap. It should have crushed Conroy to ship him out.
It does, nevertheless, inform you a large number about his dedication to reshaping this Flames’ roster.
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