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NHL Free Agency 2018: Calgary Flames sign Elias Lindholm

By Dave Stevenson

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 31: Elias Lindholm #28 of the Carolina Hurricanes prepares for a face off during an NHL game against the New York Rangers on March 31, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 31: Elias Lindholm #28 of the Carolina Hurricanes prepares for a face off during an NHL game against the New York Rangers on March 31, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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After acquiring his rights from the Carolina Hurricanes, the Calgary Flames have signed forward Elias Lindholm to a six-year deal worth $29.1 million in NHL free agency

The Calgary Flames wanted to change their roster after failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons. In NHL free agency, Calgary made a splash by signing James Neal. At the 2018 draft, they traded defenseman Dougie Hamilton, forward Micheal Ferland, and prospect Adam Fox to the Carolina Hurricanes. In exchange, the Flames got defenseman Noah Hanifin and forward Elias Lindholm.

Both the players they got are restricted free agents, so they needed new deals. The Flames got Lindholm signed to a six-year deal on Monday, July 16. It is worth $4.85 million annually and $29.1 million in total, according to Elliotte Friedman.

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Last season, Lindholm scored 16 goals and accumulated 28 assists for 44 points. He fell just shy of matching his career highs of 17 goals (2014-15) and 45 points (2016-17).

He, did, however, have his second straight season with at least 40 points. His six power-play goals set a career-best.

Lindholm will get some chances to be the first-line right wing the Flames have been searching for. In Carolina, he was primarily on the second or third forward line. Lindholm will most likely get some prime opportunities on the Flames’ power-play as well.

He’ll be reunited with his former head coach Bill Peters, who opted out of his contract with the Hurricanes so he could sign with the Flames.

Lindholm is a solid NHL player, but he has never quite lived up to his hype as a top-five draft pick. He was drafted by the Hurricanes with the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Overall, this is fair value for Lindholm. He’s at worst a quality second-line forward. If the change of scenery helps him realize his true potential, this could be a decent bargain contract for the Flames.

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Calgary’s attention now turns to getting Hanifin locked up, preferably to a long-term deal. They have four RFAs remaining and just over $8 million of cap space.

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