Welcome to the Flame for Thought Roundup. Whenever there are multiple tidbits of Calgary Flames info floating around the prairies of Alberta, we’ll round ‘em up for you and wrangle them into quick-hit articles like this one. Today: short updates on Lindholm, Hanifin, and Backlund.
Update: Elias Lindholm Contract Negotiations
- Set to walk to unrestricted free agency in July 2024, Lindholm remains open to signing in Calgary.
- According to Eric Francis on Twitter/X, Lindholm is “willing” to stay.
- Via Pat Steinberg, GM Conroy claims dialogue with Lindholm’s camp are progressing positively.
- The hold-up is likely not term, but AAV, a thought echoed by The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie:
Honestly, the Lindholm presser (in my mind) can be boiled down to one thing: money.
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) September 13, 2023
He wants the 💰. He might not get it anywhere else. But should the Flames give it to him is another question.
Fans remain torn on whether or not a Lindholm extension is the right solution for the Flames. A pro to signing Lindholm into his twilight years include maximizing a roster that’s committed to veteran players like Jonathan Huberdeau (30), MacKenzie Weegar (29), Nazem Kadri (32), Blake Coleman (31), and Jacob Markstrom (33), all of whom are locked in until the end of the 2025/26 season at the earliest. On the other hand, if Lindholm is seeking a $9M AAV, the Flames would have $26.5M of their cap space tied up in three forwards (Huberdeau at $10.5M and Kadri at $7M), making it harder to sign younger players, further delaying any possibility of a genuine rebuild, and leaving Flames fans hoping for mega NHL salary cap increases.
The decision facing the Calgary Flames and Elias Lindholm is a teetering domino – once it falls, the whole picture could become much clearer quickly.
Mikael Backlund’s Future as a Calgary Flame
- Mikael Backlund is excited to be back in Calgary and maintains his position from the end of last season: he wants to see how the team performs this year before re-committing to the Flames or deciding to leave via trade or free agency.
- Winning is important to Backlund. If the Flames have a shot to compete meaningfully under Conroy and Huska, the odds of a Backlund extension will increase.
- More detail and quotes from Mikael Backlund available via Eric Francis here.
#Flames C Mikael Backlund on his contract status: “Just like I said at the end of last season, I kind of wanted to see what was going to happen here and I’m still feeling that way ... I haven’t closed any doors. I’m excited to start the season and we’ll see how things shake out.”
— Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) September 12, 2023
A Fresh Perspective for Noah Hanifin?
- Hanifin appeared to have one foot out the door at the end of last season and through the summer, but the trade many thought would come never did.
- Upon returning to Calgary, it looks like Hanifin’s situation may be more in line with that of Mikael Backlund.
- Via Steinberg, Conroy says the door is open for a Hanifin extension:
On Noah Hanifin, Conroy indicates the team hasn’t closed the door on him returning.
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) September 13, 2023
“He did say he wasn’t going to re-sign in the summer. But that doesn’t mean he won’t ever re-sign.” #Flames