The mood was buoyant, if still slightly on edge. Sweden, having already won its opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, clinging to a 1-1 tie with the defending champions. Entering the final minute of stoppage time.

Inside the huge makeshift tent set up in downtown Boden (pop. 18,500), hometown boy Elias Lindholm and two pals were perched in front of a bank of big-screen TVs.

And then German midfield talisman Tony Kroos, as everyone globally has doubtless seen multiple times by now, steps up at the edge of the 18-yard box to curl a stunner around the clawing fingertips of 'keeper Robin Olsen, inside the far post.

"A tough ending for Sweden,'' sighs Lindholm, having had 48 hours to move past the sudden shock. "A good free-kick. A great goal. I just wish it had been scored against anybody but Sweden …

"But they still have a chance to go through. We'll see Wednesday if they can beat Mexico."

So most decidedly a good news/bad news Saturday for Elias Lindholm.

The good news arrived only hours earlier: A career move to the Flames.

"I was kind of prepared for anything,'' acknowledges Lindholm, a vital component of the five-player deal swung by Calgary GM Brad Treliving that also brought defenceman Noah Hanifin north. "Obviously you're not sure until you get the phone call.

"I'd talked to the owner in Carolina and he told me if nothing happens we might trade you during the draft. But you never know what team's going to trade for you, where you're gonna end up.

"In the NHL, a lot of things are in play. You know that. So, as I said, I was prepared. It's a little surreal when it does happen, though."

The fifth-overall selection in the 2013 draft by the 'Canes from Brynäs of the Swedish top tier, Lindholm put up 188 points (64G, 124A) over 375 games based at PNC Arena.

The fingerprints of incoming Flames' coach Bill Peters are all over the deal, of course. Consistency and versatility (the ability to play both centre or wing) are qualities highly coveted by the new boss.

"That familiarity, with (Peters) helps, for sure," agrees Lindholm. "I know the system he likes to play, which should make it easier me to adjust to a new situation."

With the departure of Micheal Ferland, a new third spoke on the Flames' No. 1 wheel is required. Auditions for the coveted real estate open when training camp begins. Matthew Tkachuk is expected to get a look-see on the right side there.

As is Lindholm.

"Monahan was in the same draft as I was, so we've kind of followed each other through the years. He's a great centre, scores so many goals. Johnny's just an unbelievable player, probably one of the best in the world.

"Obviously, no one knows who's gonna play with who yet. But if I could play there, with those two guys, I wouldn't complain."

The highest-profile Swedish connection down at the Scotiabank Saddledome is, of course, 3M Line pivot Mikael Backlund.

"I don't know him that well," Lindholm confesses. "Just to say 'Hi.' That kind of thing. But he texted me right away after the trade.

"We Swedes, we stick together."

The good news about Saturday's bad news: Sweden's World Cup chances of reaching the knockout phase of 16 nations, as Lindholm made a point of emphasizing, are far from extinguished.

The best good news about Saturday's good news is the chance to play in a hockey hotbed.

"When you think NHL," he says, "you pretty much think Canada. That's where hockey starts.

"I'm excited for the chance to be a part of that. It's what you kinda miss in Carolina.

"Obviously when you've been in one place for five years it's hard to see anything else, to see yourself anywhere else. I've got a lot of good friends, teammates. That's a young group there and we became pretty close. The fans there were unbelievable, too, supporting me even though the tough times.

"I thought for sure it was where I was going to be my whole career.

"But it's refreshing to try something new, especially being in Calgary, in Canada.

"An exciting time for me.

"It's gonna be fun."