Adding Elias Lindholm helps make the Canucks an even bigger Stanley Cup contender

The Vancouver Canucks acquired forward Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames on Wednesday in exchange for a first- and fourth-round pick, forward Andrei Kuzmenko and defensive prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo.

The Swedish forward had nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points in 49 games with the Flames, a far cry from the 42 goals and 82 points he had in 2021-22 or the 64 points he recorded last season, but still enough to be a capable offensive contributor on a contending team.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, live from Toronto, Ont., for All-Star Weekend, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss the trade and how it can benefit a Canucks’ squad that’s near the top of the hockey world.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Lindholm was the number-one target on your trade-target board, Frank, and he’s staying Canada. What they’re adding is an impact piece on a team in Vancouver that’s going all-in.

Frank Seravalli: I love this move for the Canucks because they add a piece in Lindholm that takes them from Cup contender to Cup favorite, and when you can add that kind of player, of course you give up a late first-round pick.

The Canucks should be celebrating because they didn’t have to give up their top prospect in Jonathan Lekkerimaki. To me that is huge, and now they have this extra piece that has a lot of versatility. I think the biggest question if you’re Vancouver is not what are we looking for ahead of the deadline — which I think they still need a defenseman — but your biggest question is: where are we playing Lindholm in our lineup?

You can watch the rest of the segment and the full episode here…