I mean, he's not a real #1C and i think we've seen that. What he is though, is still a real good, complementary "facilitator" type Top-6 Center who is very responsible as a 2-way guy, a natural RH shot, solid on faceoffs, versatile, can play wing or C and all situations including both special teams.
The one thing that he's not...is a super dynamic offensive catalyst. He's really at his best and most useful when paired up with a highly creative, play-driving winger (or two).
If you're a team that has a Gaudreau/Tkachuk to play him with...there's a chance you'll be reasonably happy with his performance, for at least the first few years of the contract. Still going to be a stupid huge number for a more complementary player to ring in at...but there's a major scarcity of even his type of Top-6 Centers available "for free". You typically just have to draft and develop them. When they're traded...it's usually because of impending contract situations...just as it was in Lindholm's case.
A lot of the teams that i could see being most interested...also happen to have exactly those sort of play-driving Wingers he needs to thrive. Columbus, Boston, Utah...even maybe Buffalo, Nashville, Detroit, possibly others get into the mix. Really...the only team involved that
doesn't at least have something resembling at least a play driving top-line winger or two, is Vancouver.
If it's $8M, Vancouver can't go there. Just isn't enough money to go around. Which is unfortunate...but that's all part of the game with deadline rentals. Sometimes that's all they are. And he was a very useful piece once he got settled in and healthy down the stretch and into the playoffs. Especially with Pettersson MIA. The production might not jump off the page...but he played a crucial role for them anyway.
But Lindholm basically represents a potential nexus of a brave new cap-rising world, with a highly coveted position of major scarcity and difficult to acquire. We've been time and again that this is a combination that can lead to crazy results.
