[gvitaly]

Here is the Source in Swedish, and the Google Translated link

The Calgary Flames were expected to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs last season and "anything could happen there". Now there was no playoff. For one of the team's most important players, Elias Lindholm , it was an okay season on the ice, but also a little special on the side when he became a father for the first time.

- The season was a bit up and down, but it felt pretty good. I have always been good at staying focused and living in the moment, but then our son arrived a little early and it became a little chaotic, he tells hockeysverige.se and continues:
- Hockey did not become the primary thing then and there and after that I lost a little focus on my own season. I still think I did pretty well until the primary wasn't number one anymore, but still maybe not the best season. Becoming a father is one of the things that is big in life and a lot happened there and then.

How is your son today?
- He arrived five weeks early, so it was a bit much there at the beginning, but he and all of us in the family are doing well now. He turned six months a week ago so it's full speed ahead.

What is it like to be a father?
- It is fun. In the beginning, I couldn't do much, but it was a lot about mother. A lot of diaper changing, but it works. It is actually the last month that we have started to "connect".
- Life is a little different now. Maybe I can't be as spontaneous anymore and make things up, says the Calgary forward with a smile.

Do you think the role of father in the home will give you a good distance from hockey?
- I hope so, but right now I feel like I want to find my way back to the focus I had before the season started.
- Then I've always been good at the fact that once I get home, I'm at home and don't think much about hockey. Then the focus must be on the family instead. I think I've always been decent about that, that when I'm in the arena it's hockey and when I'm not there I'm usually good at letting it go.

Elias Lindholm: "Of course you lose sometimes"

Calgary obviously had the goal of making it to the Stanley Cup playoffs, but something was missing for the team to make it all the way.

- Hard to say what was missing. It was a bit of a half-baked season all the way and felt like a lot went wrong. We never got together where the new players would go in and stuff like that.
- We won some matches, but never got any "streaks" when we needed it. We won two, lost one. Won one, lost two. We never caught up.
- Then we fell a little short of the mark. Among other things, we lost against Chicago at home, which came third last in the entire league. A very important match with only a few rounds left - and we cod at home... It must not happen if you want to make it to the playoffs.
- As I said, a lot happened and not only where we lost, but we never got it together.

Darryl Sutter came in as head coach during the 2020/21 season, something that felt good then and there according to Elias Lindholm .

- He was in Calgary for two and a half years. Right when he came in, it was great. We needed some change within the organization and on the coaching staff. Darryl is demanding and his leadership style takes a lot of energy.

How did his rather tough leadership fit into adversity?
- I don't usually "focus" so much on the coach. Of course it was sad to see that many took it. Of course you lose sometimes, but you do with anyone.
- He is gone now, but there were many who were the problem, many players including myself who were not so good. It wasn't just him.

Starting with the 2023/24 season, Ryan Huska will be the head coach for Calgary.

- He has been an assistant coach in Calgary for five years and has a slightly different leadership style than Darryl. Ryan contributes a little more Swedish leadership. A little calmer and talks a lot with the players.
- We will see how it goes. I've never had him as a head coach. "Ralle" ( Rasmus Andersson ) and Oliver (Kylington ) had him in Stockton for a season. Above all, "Ralle" thought he was great there.
- I still had Ryan as an assistant and got to know him well. We've talked a bit on the phone and he seems hooked, so I think it could be good.

Rasmus Andersson is a bit forgotten here in Sweden, what is his importance to the team?
- "Ralle" has been very good for us. It was actually the season before whoever he was stepped up. "Gio" ( Mark Giordano ) disappeared and "Ralle" came in and had to be power play number one, got a big chance and took advantage of it. He has raised his game and is important for us.
Uncertain future in Calgary: “A lot to agree on”

Elias Lindholm will begin his sixth season at the club this autumn and has great expectations for the team.

- We have roughly the same team as last season. Lost (Tyler) Toffoli, but got Kylington back.
- With a lot going wrong last season and us falling short, I expect us to be a playoff team. Everything else is not good enough. It's the playoffs that matter.
- We have said every year that once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. Florida was certainly proof of that. They slipped onto a banana peel and took it almost all the way. Those are insanely small margins.

The contract with Calgary expires after the coming season. Elias Lindholm has also received an offer to sign a new contract with the club.

- I am willing to stay. Then my agent and Calgary take care of most of it. There is a lot we have to agree on, but I have said that I can imagine staying. After that, the agent and Calgary get to fix the rest. Then we'll see if it works out or not.
- I have one year left, but if it doesn't go as I have planned, I will become a "free agent". Nothing strange about that. We will see what happens.

How do you enjoy living in Calgary socially?
- I think it's good. It is a nice city, there is a lot to do, nice restaurants, good shopping and all that. A beautiful city and I like Canada as a country.
- It gets a little cold sometimes, but it's lucky that I'm Swedish and can handle it, concludes Elias Lindholm with a laugh.