According to expert Elliotte Friedman, the Flames might need to shell out around $9 million to renew a contract with center Elias Lindholm.
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.
Committing $9M to him might mean the Flames are heavily investing in a team core that's growing older � one that might soon be among the priciest in the league.
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.
Although it seems like a significant overspend, the Flames might have to go down this path. The hope will be that this decision stands the test of time.
As Read on Markerzone - Flames Set to Massively Overpay Key Center
POLL | ||
5 OCTOBRE | 247 ANSWERS MAJOR: Flames Eyeing Ridiculous Extension for Key Centre Do you think $9M would be an overpay? | ||
Yes | 176 | 71.3 % |
No | 71 | 28.7 % |
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