Player Discussion: Cayden Lindstrom

[CBJx614]

Might as well start his thread now.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806854778401779744

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806834437876797712

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806844118808883328

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806839805310845000

Click to read more...

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806857219155370289

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806854869904416872

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806858730757091835

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806836306254946781

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806780180511576086

 

[koteka]

If the back is fine, this is a fantastic pick.

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806850385098821712

 

[Indy18]

Kinda shocked how he's already considered a bust by a fair portion of the social media community on reddit/twitter. There is legit a poster on reddit I am pretty sure is having a nervous meltdown over this pick.

At the end of the day all these kids are lotto picks and he checks off ALOT of boxes if he hits (and personally I has been a favorite for me the past few monhts)

 

[Jovavic]

Everyone is one hit away from a crippling injury

 

[ViD]

How does he compare to Byfield ?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Very curious on if he’ll be at development camp. That being said, he was my 2nd guy I wanted on the board behind Demidov. No complaints here. His walk up to the podium was a bit concerning

 

[majormajor]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806854869904416872

He must have told Marshawn Lynch about his 40 yard sprint time.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

“We did have a lot of calls,” Waddell told the Blue Jackets’ radio network. “We had a backup deal if Cayden wasn’t available that we could have made. Cayden was the guy we wanted. We had him second on our list (after No. 1 overall selection Macklin Celebrini).

“When we saw (Lindstrom) was still there, that team called me and I said, ‘No, we’re not trading it.’ We’re very fortunate to draft Cayden.”

Lindstrom, flanked by his mother and grandmother, was all smiles as he rose to his feet after the pick was announced by Rick Nash, the club’s director of player development and a former first-round pick (No. 1 overall) by the Jackets in 2002.

“I’m going to bring a winning mindset,” Lindstrom said. “I’m going to bring a lot of speed and power and skill. A lot of good offensive touch and physicality as well.

“I’m excited to be a Columbus Blue Jacket.”

Lindstrom a singular talent — centers with his combination of skill and size don’t come around every year. He was a dominating player for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League, scoring 27-19-46 in only 32 games before injuries to a hand and his back wiped out most of the rest of his season.

The Blue Jackets, like many teams, did extensive testing and looked at all of Lindstrom’s available medical tests to make sure his back injury wouldn’t be a chronic issue, said director of amateur scouting Ville Siren. Waddell was told by team doctors that it could be managed with little risk.

“Centers are hard to come by,” Waddell said. “He’s a big kid. Plays the game hard. He can score. He puts up points. He’s got a lot to mature about, because he’s only 18 years old as a player.“But he has tools that you can take to the next level. He does all the things you’d want a player to do. It’s just a matter of taking it all to a higher level now.”
“There’s no doubt, you build down the middle,” Waddell said. “We talk about it all the time. If you can stop the puck and you have good centermen, you can usually have good success. There were other great players there (on the board), but we really wanted a center there.”

The Blue Jackets, now with Lindstrom, have had seven first-round picks in the last four drafts, including six picks within the top 12 picks of those drafts. They have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL, and they have skilled veteran players.

But they haven’t been a difficult team to play against for a few seasons now.

“We have some really skilled players,” Waddell said. “When you can add a skilled player who brings some hardness to the equation, that can go a long way for a franchise.

“It’s gonna be a few years, of course. We don’t want to get too fast-forward with this. But when he’s ready to play, he’s going to make our whole team bigger.”

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806867040487002186

 

[stevo61]

How does he compare to Byfield ?

Besides skin color? Not well

Both big and athletic. Byfield has better hands and playmaking. Lindstrom has more goal scoring ability and more naturally aggressive

 

[NotWendell]

He's got some Ohio in him. (figuratively)

 

[ViD]

Besides skin color? Not well

I figured he’s got the same size and skill in his play

 

[koteka]

He gave a good interview on the Fan. He talked about his grandfather’s work ethic. His grandfather was a tree faller in northern BC and also drove trucks.

 

[stevo61]

I figured he’s got the same size and skill in his play

I expanded my post a little without going into crazy detail. Have some similar qualities but accomplidh what they do on the ice in very different ways. Byfield would be a menace if he had any sort of meanstreak, dude could be a bully

 

[majormajor]

I figured he’s got the same size and skill in his play

He doesn't have the super smooth handling and refined playmaking of Byfield. While Byfield isn't a physical player. Byfield has to be pushed to use his body, Lindstrom doesn't. He plays the power forward game instinctively. He loves to hit. And Lindstrom is a better shooter too.

 

[CannonFire1]

Excited to see what Lindstrom can do, and hoping he can stay healthy. I would have leaned to Demidov, but acknowledge the scouting staff has more information than I do. At the end of the day I'm a Jackets fan, so I hope this kid lights the league on fire!

 

[CBJWerenski8]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806859359550595136

 

[Johansen2Foligno]

Will his contract be insured?

 

[Youngguns80]

Hey Lindstrom - see you in 2, 3 years after you finish your junior career.

When can an NHL prospect play in the AHL?

When can my favorite NHL prospect play in the AHL? I see this topic of confusion appear every year so I have decided to make a dedicated page for it here as wel

www.defendthenest.com

 

[majormajor]

Hey Lindstrom - see you in 2, 3 years after you finish your junior career.

When can an NHL prospect play in the AHL?

When can my favorite NHL prospect play in the AHL? I see this topic of confusion appear every year so I have decided to make a dedicated page for it here as wel

www.defendthenest.com

I think there's a good chance he's in the NHL D+2.

 

[Youngguns80]

I think there's a good chance he's in the NHL D+2.

I will wager more on the D+3, really hoping I am wrong but I feel there will be a few more injuries (not his back) that will set him back. Just an uneasy feeling.

 

[VT]

I am not too happy to draft Lindstrom. Understand me right, I like similar players but I am nervous because of his back. That is the only reason.

 

[majormajor]

I will wager more on the D+3, really hoping I am wrong but I feel there will be a few more injuries (not his back) that will set him back. Just an uneasy feeling.

When Eric Lindros was picked by Quebec in 1991, and refused to sign there, there was speculation that it would be bad for him to go back to junior because he would let up physically on a league he'd already dominated and at the same time guys would all be taking runs at him, trying to make their mark.

If Cayden Lindstrom has an injury or two, it wouldn't surprise me. It wouldn't surprise me for any prospect really, most of them get hurt once or twice.

I think he might be a good bet to stay with Columbus in his D+2, maybe not playing as many games, maybe adding in some AHL games (conditioning loan) or a WJC tournament. He might be one of those rare cases where he's better off developing on the roster of his NHL team and learning in that setting without playing a full schedule. That will be a huge issue for most fans but I don't think development is linear with games played, I think keeping a prospect fit and fresh and taking things step by step is better.