Jets trade has decent value, but nothing points out to them being a seller.

BOS doesn't really need Pesce. Even though as an individual player Pesce is probably better than DeBrusk, BOS is lacking more in quality forwards over quality D-men. Doesn't make much sense for them.

CGY could get a better deal for Lindholm.

Boston doesn't need Pesce, and Pesce has a lot more value than Debrusk

Flames decline pretty easily

A pretty weak and lame offer for Elias Lindholm, If Conroy were to move him. That offer would be blown away by a country mile.

Lindholm is a medicore 2C. Igore the Flames fans that want to paint him as the second coming of Gretzky. I wouldn't do this, I think it's a little much. Maybe without Teuvo.
Don't hate the Nino deal. That Boston trade is... Pesce > DeBrusk.... why is Coghlan going with him?

If Boston doesn't think that DeBrusk will re-sign at a number that they like, I could see them doing this swap and trying to flip Pesce for a high pick. But I agree that Boston's biggest need is top 6 talent, and so it makes more sense for them to hang onto DeBrusk if they can. In some ways, both BOS and CAR have excellent defensive depth and need scoring help, and with Boston falling off and the Canes rising the deal does make some sense.

Holy false dilemma fallacy Batman! I'm pretty sure that Lindholm is somewhere in the middle of the two extremes you presented (IMO, at least a good 2C, if not a lower end 1C). You are entitled to your opinion of course, and it is possible that he is not a good fit for the Canes needs, but I haven't seen anyone was on here calling him Gretzy-esque. Personally, I think at least a late first round pick is not too big of an ask for a player of his caliber, and Flames fans probably shouldn't budge from either that or a high-end prospect.

Circumstantial but true. As things stand though the trade doesn't make much sense to me, but under those circumstances it probably will.

Looking at him analytically, he's a meh 2C. I'll stand by my argument; he's the 3rd best C on the Flames. Kadri's better and Backlund is just filthy. I wouldn't move a 1st for Backlund (and I absolutely love Mikael Backlund), so why would Lindholm deserve that? Defensively, Backlund destroys Lindholm. Offensively same story. This illusion that he's not a big ball of mediocre is so interesting. People think he was a major contributor to the 40-40-40 line with Gaudreau and Tkachuk, but Lindholm's been a complete passenger. He's the same caliber of player he is when he left. If the price is going to be a 1st or a high end prospect, remember that Lindholm is also a pending UFA, Carolina isn't going to be anywhere near him.

Backland does seem like a better fit for the Canes. Probably requires fewer assets, and maybe he sticks around for a couple of years on the cheap chasing a cup.