Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm featured on Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets list
By Ryan Pike
1 year agoA pretty important off-season has begun for the Calgary Flames. And while the club searches for a new general manager, whoever lands the job will have some decisions to make. Prime among them: the futures of seven pending free agents following the 2023-24 season, arguably none more important than centre Elias Lindholm.
Lindholm appeared on Daily Faceoff’s first trade targets list of this off-season.
This was always going to be a big summer of Lindholm in determining his future in Cowtown. He sprinkled a little spicy seasoning on that as the Flames packed up, hesitating in a big way when asked whether he would be interested in re-signing. It’s believed Lindholm is one of at least a handful of players who does not see eye-to-eye with coach Darryl Sutter. There is still a lot to be determined: Is Sutter officially returning as Flames coach? Who will be Calgary’s next GM? And if he isn’t willing to re-sign, is Calgary willing to enter the season without an extension? There would be huge interest in Lindholm, an uber-talented Selke Trophy candidate on a bargain contract for one more year.
Lindholm, 28, is heading into the final year of a six-year pact that carries a $4.85 million cap hit. When asked about a potential extension during media exit interviews, he said this:
“We’ll see what happens. I’ve got one more year and I kind of look at it that way. I’ve got one more year, and that’s all I can say.”
Lindholm has been consistently good and occasionally great during five seasons with the Flames. He was a point-per-game player in 2021-22 and was the runner-up in Selke Trophy voting. If you take out Lindholm’s 2021-22 season as an outlier, he still had 243 points over 287 games in his remaining seasons – that’s a .847 points-per-game clip, which is very good for a player with his two-way ability.
But which is the real Lindholm? The point-per-game version, or the one slightly below that? Because there’s a pretty hefty cap hit difference between those two versions. Lindholm’s been a tremendous bargain for the Flames, and he deserves to cash in on some excellent performances. But the big question is whether he cashes in with the Flames, or if he does so elsewhere.
Recent articles from Ryan Pike
