from Eric Francis of Sportsnet,

Not that Craig Conroy needed to justify anything about the significant haul he’d just procured from Vancouver, but when asked about the curious timing of it all, the Flames GM was direct.

“What I was looking for in return, I got it,” said Conroy of the all-star week trade Wednesday that saw him send Elias Lindholm to Vancouver for a first-round pick, a conditional fourth-rounder, Andrei Kuzmenko and prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo.

“I was looking to get younger, and picks, and a roster player — they checked all the boxes, and it was the best deal moving forward.

“I didn’t have a timeline set, I thought it would be closer to the deadline, but about four days ago Vancouver got aggressive, so I circled back with other teams and told them I was getting pushed and needed a decision.

“I’m thinking it’s a fair deal, a good hockey trade for both teams.”

Unlike his summertime Yegor Sharangovich swap for Tyler Toffoli that was erroneously panned by many, this one is a massive win for the first year GM and his organization.

And the deal could get even better, as the fourth-rounder turns into a third-rounder if the Canucks make it to the conference final.

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