The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forward Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames, the team announced Wednesday night.
In exchange, the Flames will receive forward Andrei Kuzmenko, defencemen Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a 2024 first-round draft pick and a 2024 conditional 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.
blue looks good on you, Elias Lindholm! 馃數
B次元官网网址 Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)
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 KuzmenkoB次元官网网址檚 play during this season as just B次元官网网址淥K,B次元官网网址 and says the forward needs B次元官网网址渢o start to play a little harder.B次元官网网址
B次元官网网址淚 need to be better, this I understand. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why I havenB次元官网网址檛 played (as much) this season,B次元官网网址 he said in November.
Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, who signed a three-year extension on Wednesday, paid tribute to KuzmenkoB次元官网网址檚 work in Vancouver.
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B次元官网网址淔irst 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,B次元官网网址 said Allvin in a statement.
B次元官网网址淚n 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.B次元官网网址
The Canucks are tied with the Boston Bruins with 71 points to sit atop the NHL standings.
The Canadian Press