Prospect Info: Cayden Lindstrom

[Crede777]

I'm cautiously optimistic, but I wouldn’t have taken such a big swing at the 4th overall pick. I’d have expected that kind of selection closer to 9th or later—not that high.

If he pans out, it’ll be an incredible pick. But if he doesn’t, we likely won’t be in a position to draft this early again anytime soon—unless we miss the playoffs and win the lottery, which obviously isn't the goal.

I think you have to trust your medical staff and scouts.

If the scouts say he projects as better than the other players and your medical staff evaluates him and says he is expected to fully recover, then you should draft him.

It's not a perfect system but I think over the long run a GM who trusts and listens to his experts will be better off.

 

[alphafox]

At this point Lindstrom basically needs to be treated like a lottery ticket. You need to build the team without factoring him in as a fundamental building block. Pretend you whiffed badly on the 1st round and if he surprises and forces you to trade a player great. He just can't be relied upon to hit anything close to his ceiling and even if he does he is probably going to have significant questions on availability until after years of playing and staying in the lineup. He is potentially our version of Kuznetsov that comes in and blows the doors off the league after over ripening or he could never show up./

 

[stevo61]

At this point Lindstrom basically needs to be treated like a lottery ticket. You need to build the team without factoring him in as a fundamental building block. Pretend you whiffed badly on the 1st round and if he surprises and forces you to trade a player great. He just can't be relied upon to hit anything close to his ceiling and even if he does he is probably going to have significant questions on availability until after years of playing and staying in the lineup. He is potentially our version of Kuznetsov that comes in and blows the doors off the league after over ripening or he could never show up./

So... treat him like most prospects? Don't think teams generally operate on the thought that teenagers will need a spot waiting for them and they'll step in day 1 and be a top player minus the McDavid's/Matthews/Crosby/Ovechkin's of the world

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I know his back is “the story” but I really hope we’re able to start discussing his actual on ice play next year. He’s been back for, what, 5 games? And we’ve barely heard anything about how he actually played.

 

[stevo61]

I know his back is “the story” but I really hope we’re able to start discussing his actual on ice play next year. He’s been back for, what, 5 games? And we’ve barely heard anything about how he actually played.

Which makes sense, you aren't going to get a good idea of his game after missing that much time. He had nothing positive last game but the game before was really solid.

I think of pro's like Willy Nylander who holds out which cause him to miss training camp and a couple months of the regular season. That was an entire wasted year for him, he never really caught up and that's with being able to train to his max potential while also joining his team mid season and not the most competitive time of the year.

His health is the only real story right now. We can hope he plays in the finals like he did the 1st game of the Mem Cup with the added rest and recovery time, that would be the cherry on top but the main goal obviously is him being healthy and confident heading into the offseason

 

[CBJx614]

Everything that's happening right now is just a bonus imo. He's playing well seemingly and from all reports pain free( at least from his back condition) I'm not putting too much stock into what's happening right now. I'll be more curious to hear about his off-season conditioning, how he perform at training camp and how he performs once he gets to MSU.

 

[alphafox]

So... treat him like most prospects? Don't think teams generally operate on the thought that teenagers will need a spot waiting for them and they'll step in day 1 and be a top player minus the McDavid's/Matthews/Crosby/Ovechkin's of the world

I agree in part, but almost all teams expect their top 5 pick to contribute toward the top of their lineup 3-5 years post draft and they draft and spend in UFA accordingly. All I am saying is treat him like a guy you took a flyer on, don't expect that you need to have money or roster space budgeted for him in 3 years and if he forces his way into big dollars and big ice time in a sustainable way then figure out who you are trading to retain him.