Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
Last year I do remember Rutherford saying the Canucks were willing to pay Horvat for the player he had been, but would not pay him like the 50 goal and 90 point player he had been through 30-40 games for one year. So I won't be surprised if they don't get Lindholm signed. I think that once Lindholm settles his contract, he'll start playing better. Once the Flames gave him the security of a 6 year deal he played his best hockey right from the start of it. Really do you want a guy who overperforms in a contract year and wants to be paid top dollar than fade....or a guy who once you pay him performs as well as you can expect?
The return is fine, but we'll see how many years it takes to get another decent center. By eating Kuzmenko's deal maybe it hamstrings the Flames from overpaying for a second rate center in FA this summer. So that would be good.
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Lindholm outperformed his contract here for sure, so the saying he starting playing better after getting a long term deal doesn't make sense because he was not making what his production would have cost had he signed a 2-3 year bridge deal.
I just don't think he is as good as his numbers says if he is not surrounded by top end talent on his wings. He completes a line, but he can't drive a line.