Management was clear that they were pursuing top 6 help and repeated this after the acquisition. Problem is, being a center, he's a coaches wet dream. Big faceoff guy, RHC, PK, defensively sound. So RT is going to play all his best C's down the middle and as we now see... Lindholm is centering the 3rd line.
The kick in the balls for management is that was the one line that absolutely didnt need help. Canucks arguably had the best 3rd line in the league with Blue, Garland and Joshua. So essentially, they gave up that package for something that wasn't broke and didnt need fixing and supporting the top 6 failed.
Of course there is the possibility that RT is forced to change up and Lindholm makes it to the top 6 but clearly this is how he visions the team in the playoffs. Miller, Petey and Lindholm down the middle and he is not going to swap out Petey for Lindholm in the top 6.
Can't say the trade was a flop but their intent and expectations were definitely a miss with this trade.