Report: Pending UFA Elias Lindholm going to open market

Pending unrestricted free-agent forward Elias Lindholm is going to the open market, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."

The Vancouver Canucks acquired Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in late January in exchange for winger Andrei Kuzmenko, defense prospects Joni Jurmo and Hunter Brzustewicz, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-round selection.

Lindholm amassed six goals and 12 points in 26 regular-season games while averaging fewer than 18 minutes of ice time per contest with Vancouver. He added 10 points in 13 playoff games before the Canucks were eliminated in the second round by the Edmonton Oilers.

The 29-year-old is due for a raise on his $4.85-million cap hit. Evolving-Hockey projects Lindholm to sign a seven-year pact with an average annual value of $7.962 million.

Vancouver was busy Thursday, signing forward Dakota Joshua and defenseman Tyler Myers to a four-year, $13-million pact and a three-year, $9-million contract, respectively. Both players could've hit the open market as free agents July 1.

The Canucks now have around $14.5 million in projected space when accounting for Tucker Poolman's $2.5-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve, per CapFriendly.

Goaltender Casey DeSmith and rearguards Ian Cole and Nikita Zadorov can all become UFAs, while netminder Arturs Silovs is a pending restricted free agent.