If you’ll allow me I’d like to start with a suggestion that my colleague, Chris Johnston, recently wrote about in The Athletic. Big Money Ceej wrote about how the Colorado Avalanche have the assets that would work in a Lindholm trade, including a 2024 first-round pick and young defenceman Bowen Byram. Somewhere along the way, some eager fans online took it as the Flames needing both a first and Byram to make a deal work.
I think it’s more likely that the Flames get a first-round pick and a lesser prospect, or a higher-quality prospect and a lower draft pick. Of course, the asking price changes depending on if Lindholm’s contract can be extended.
Colorado, however, makes perfect sense as a landing spot as it needs a second-line centre. Boston fascinates me as a trade target, too. The Bruins went from being in a centre drought without David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron to having as many as seven. Matthew Poitras would carry some value to Calgary as a 19-year-old, right-shot centre. Would the Bruins be willing to move him to get Lindholm?
Some other teams I’m wondering about? Nashville. The Predators have the cap space to afford Lindholm, and they want to be a playoff team. They have their 2024 first-round pick and a trio of second-round picks too. The Detroit Red Wings still have cap space and a fighting chance at a wild-card spot, too. Could they be in play? If the Flames play their cards right, there should be a handful of suitors looking to add Lindholm ahead of the deadline.
theathletic.com
