Insider Links Elias Lindholm To Serious Canadian Contender

As seemingly the top trade target at this year's deadline, Calgary Flames veteran center Elias Lindholm has heard his name linked to many a team around the NHL over the past couple of months. 

On Friday, Insider Elliotte Friedman explained on the Jeff Marek Show why he feels that the Vancouver Canucks should be going "all in" this season, and therefore should be a serious contender to land the Flames' pending unrestricted free agent.  

The reason I mention Lindholm, number one—Vancouver and Calgary have (already) done a deal this year, and I do think that teams gain a comfort level doing deals with each other. Number two—he's a good player who a lot of (top) teams are looking at... It just makes sense to me.   

And the why (Canucks GM Jim) Rutherford and (Canucks GM Patrik) Allvin do business, they make deals, and I find it very hard to believe that they wouldn't call Calgary and say, okay what are you thinking here? It is circumstantial evidence, but I think it's good circumstantial evidence.

The Canucks have now moved into the No. 1 seed in the entire NHL, sitting atop the Pacific Division standings at 30-11-4 for 64 points. Friedman's reasoning is you just can't let an opportunity like this pass you by. 

He explained that "if I'm the Canucks, I'm going for it... You never know when you're gonna have a good team and have a shot. I think you have to look at Vancouver this year, and say they've got a shot."

Allvin has already made it clear that he’s looking for another top six forward to add to the mix.

As Friedman referred to, the Canucks and the Flames did complete a deal earlier this season as Vancouver obtained pending UFA defenseman Nikita Zadorov from Calgary. Perhaps the two sides will be able to come together again before the March 8 deadline.

Photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports