REPORT: Some Suspect Avalanche Targeting Lindholm In Trade

We’re nearing the time of year where a lot of rumors start being thrown around, and you aren’t quite sure what to believe, but according to one insider, some people suspect the Colorado Avalanche might be after a big target.

On the newest episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman, who briefly touched on this Saturday night, mentioned that some people believe the Avalanche are up to something, and their target may be Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames.

On Friday, the Avalanche dealt Tomas Tatar to the Seattle Kraken, freeing up a roster spot and a little bit of cap space. That has left some people paranoid, apparently.

Here is everything Friedman had to say on the subject…

“The other team really looking around: Colorado. They made that Tomas Tatar trade, and everybody is saying, ‘OK, what’s the other shoe?’ And I think they need to wait because they’ve got some cap issues and roster issues, but there isn’t a contender in the league who isn’t trying to figure out what the Avalanche are up to. I know some people suspect Lindholm. They’re not the only ones, but I know some people suspect that that’s one of the guys that they’re eyeing.”

After Jeff Marek discusses how the Tatar trade felt like Colorado establishing a jab, and everyone is now waiting for a jab to come, Friedman continued…

“I think Lindholm is one of the guy’s they’re looking at, but I’m sure there are others. Again, I don’t know what’s going to happen, how much is going to happen before the freeze. Like I said, Colorado has got some roster issues and some cap issues. They might have to wait, but they’re lurking. There’s no question that they are lurking out there.”

Second line center has continued to be an issue for Colorado this season. Ryan Johansen scored on Sunday night against the Sharks, but he’s struggled after scoring a lot of goals on the powerplay early in the year.

Elias Lindholm would be an almost ideal 2C behind Nathan MacKinnon, but he won’t come cheap. He makes a very reasonable $4,850,000 until his contract ends at the end of the season, but that will only increase his value at the deadline, because a lot of teams will be able to fit that in. Because the Avalanche are using LTIR, they aren’t accumulating cap space, and would potentially have to send a contract the other way if they were to make a move for a bigger contract.

Lindholm has 20 points in 31 games this season for the Flames, and 64 points last season.

It’s important to keep in mind that the Avalanche typically do their business out of the public eye, so take everything you hear with a grain of salt, but Lindholm, on paper, does make a lot of sense. Any move before the roster freeze is highly unlikely. That begins on Dec. 19 at 11:59 PM, and lasts until Dec. 28.

Stay tuned to CHN as more Avalanche news continues to come in.