Quoting: PuzzledActuary
Where do you see retention? He has 25 games left under contract if he's traded at the deadline, he's dirt cheap.
Lindholm in all likelihood won't be re-signing in CGY - CGY knows that, the rest of the league knows that. To expect a much bigger return than this is setting yourself up for a rude awakening.
30 teams can sign him for free in the summer.
I said this similar thing about a possible Backlund trade:
The best thing about mock trade websites is that GM's usually think different than us fans do. We see time and time again GM's LOVE overpaying for guys because they WANT them.
See a 1st for Foligno, a 2nd for Greenway, an entire draft class for Jeannot, a 1st for Chiarot, etc etc.
Do you honestly believe a defensively responsible top 6C scoring at 73 points per 82 games the past three seasons will be "dirt cheap"? (and yes, it's likely we'd retain on him if moved)
Calgary has no incentive to sell him cheap just because he won't resign, and there is always a chance that a team can extend him if they trade for him. If he's a rental, I see a trade being a bit less than the Horvat comp. If he extends where he is traded, I'm looking at a similar trade. A 1st, B prospect, and a decent roster player.
Once again, this trade doesn't do much to make Calgary panic to trade him.