It's evident that the Calgary Flames might have to offer a hefty sum to retain Elias Lindholm. The anticipated contract, however, raises eyebrows.
Lindholm is undoubtedly a skilled player. However, when assessing him, he isn't exactly a premier first-line center. Last season saw him rack up 64 points. Even with his exceptional two-way game, he mirrors a player more like Ryan O'Reilly than, for instance, Aleksandar Barkov.
Attracting talent to Calgary is challenging between the aging arena (due for replacement, but that's years away) and harsh winters. They can't boast the cultural allure of cities like Toronto or Montreal, nor do they have the pull of star players like Connor McDavid. It's safe to say, a struggling western Canadian team doesn't top many free agents' lists.
