On Jan. 31 of this yr, the Vancouver Canucks kicked off commerce deadline season with an enormous splash that noticed Calgary Flames middle Elias Lindholm go to the Canucks as Vancouver ready for a giant playoff run. Lindholm was seen because the lacking piece for Vancouver because the group was in dire want of a second-line middle that would assist solidify their ahead core and assist their prime six forwards. However with this commerce got here a excessive value, the Canucks gave up a number of property to their division rivals the Flames. They should play them 4 instances a season and the Canucks might doubtlessly see the Flames in a future playoff match primarily based on the present format. With how the Canucks’ season ended and the way efficient Lindholm turned out to be, this commerce might come again and hang-out them for years as a result of they gave up an excessive amount of.
The Gamers Traded Are Already Contributing in Calgary
On this commerce, the Canucks gave the Flames a struggling Andrei Kuzmenko, prospects Joni Jurmo and Hunter Brzustewicz, together with a first-round decide and a fourth-round decide within the 2024 Draft. The Canucks had a mindset with this commerce to do no matter it took to get this participant. Administration didn’t care what the value was, so long as they bought Lindholm. However with the value tag that they paid, dominos would quickly comply with which proved to Vancouver that the group paid too excessive of a value.
What occurred very quickly after the commerce was Kuzmenko appeared to search out his recreation and began placing up factors with the Flames. After scoring solely eight objectives with the Canucks in 43 video games, the Russian winger practically doubled his goal-scoring along with his new group in fewer video games as he scored 14 objectives in 29 video games. However that was solely the primary of many dominos to fall.
When parting methods with prospects just like the Canucks did with Jurmo and Brzustewicz, you by no means know if they may find yourself blossoming into NHL gamers. However even after solely 5 months, each prospects have impressed the Flames immensely and normal supervisor (GM) Craig Conroy appears to have plans for each of them to play for his group. Each defencemen signed entry-level contracts with the Flames and will probably be enjoying within the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Calgary Wranglers in fairly brief order.
Conroy spoke about each gamers on the Flames’ current growth camp. When requested about Brzustewicz he stated, “He sees the ice so nicely offensively, he’s a man we have been excited to have the ability to get.” Then when it got here to Jurmo, Conroy stated, “He had a terrific week, I don’t assume I used to be anticipating the offensive output he had. He’s massive, he strikes nicely, he’s aggressive. I believe he’s had a terrific week.” Each of those prospects are already near NHL-ready and near being impression gamers for the Flames as they’re rising within the prospect pool.
The Draft Picks Grew to become Nice Prospects
Then you definately have a look at what the draft picks became. The Flames held on to the Canucks’ draft choice at decide 28 and chosen Russian prospect Matvei Gridin from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the US Hockey League (USHL). Gridin scored 38 objectives and 83 factors for the Lumberjacks and is anticipated to play within the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) subsequent season with the Rimouski Oceanic, in line with The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, as he will probably be de-committing from the College of Michigan attributable to inadequate grades. Gridin has already signed an NHL contract throughout growth camp and with that contract, he’s now part of Calgary’s future.
Associated: Matvei Gridin – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
The fourth-round decide that was additionally acquired within the commerce was used to commerce down into the fifth spherical the place the Flames chosen Brampton Steelheads ahead Luke Misa. He was projected to go a lot larger than the place he went at decide 150 however his 5-foot-10 stature had most groups flip away from him, which is why he fell thus far. He scored 81 factors within the 2023-24 season for the Steelheads and will probably be heading into his fourth yr of Ontario Hockey League (OHL) hockey and will probably be a frontrunner on his group come September.
For what Lindholm did for Vancouver of their playoff run, this commerce was not value it. The Canucks solely bought to the second spherical and Lindholm was not as efficient as they have been hoping he can be and left in free company the primary probability he bought. Now they must cope with the fallout from that call and it may very well be larger than administration might have imagined.