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.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Lindstrom and his Medicine Hat tigers are on NHLN for the memorial cup final

 

[majormajor]

Just a few shifts in for Lindstrom. Taking short shifts but that seems like it might be more a matter of his confidence than anything, he's skating well. Also making mostly cerebral plays, and good ones, and not dictating the pace of play to London. The pace of play still looks fast for him.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

He just had a bad turnover in the DZ but made a diving play to break up a pass cross crease.

 

[majormajor]

Just a few shifts in for Lindstrom. Taking short shifts but that seems like it might be more a matter of his confidence than anything, he's skating well. Also making mostly cerebral plays, and good ones, and not dictating the pace of play to London. The pace of play still looks fast for him.

The theme of the 1st continued to be Lindstrom trying to slow things down and play a cerebral center role. He did throw a good hit and pin a couple players in board battles, so it wasn't soft per se, but he is more often reacting to what London is giving rather than using his skating and size to dictate play. That could indicate that his gifts might be better utilized on the wing with less to think about*, but then again it's one of his first games of the season and it's versus London in the Memorial Cup final, so I'm going to try and remember not to overlearn anything from tonight's game.

*If there is one thing Lindstrom was really special at pre-injury it was winning deep puck battles and using cutbacks and power forward type puck protection to escape off the wall and to the middle of the ice with the puck. Centers don't get into as many of those deep battles in the offensive corners.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

He looks fine when The puck is on his stick but he doesn’t look like he’s pushing himself. He looks like he’s holding back

 

[CBJWerenski8]

He just threw a big hit, both guys fell to the ice and one of the Knights players fell on Lindstrom’s back. He got right up and was jawing with the guy but I was nervous for him after the guy fell on him.

 

[majormajor]

Lindstrom taking the high sticking penalty.

Medicine Hat fortunate to have the 4-0 goal called back. If folks are curious, Lindstrom's line hasn't been on for any goals against or even chances against. They've been getting chances for. It's the McKenna line that is getting crushed in the top line matchup, they would have been -4 if that goal counted.

 

[Banana duck]

Lindstrom taking the high sticking penalty.

Medicine Hat fortunate to have the 4-0 goal called back. If folks are curious, Lindstrom's line hasn't been on for any goals against or even chances against. They've been getting chances for. It's the McKenna line that is getting crushed in the top line matchup, they would have been -4 if that goal counted.

Yeah the other thread is going off on Lindstrom but the entire team looks pretty rough.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

He has two penalties today. High stick and faceoff violation

 

[majormajor]

He has two penalties today. High stick and faceoff violation

And I think the faceoff violation was a blown call, he pushed his stick with his glove on the ice, not his glove on the puck.

 

[Game suspension]

And I think the faceoff violation was a blown call, he pushed his stick with his glove on the ice, not his glove on the puck.

Agreed. Hard to believe the refs could be so obviously wrong and still want to make that call in a 3-0 game.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I’m not going to take much from this as he hasn’t played a lot of hockey (obviously) over the year +, but he’s not really moving very well out there. Hes physical, and he’s good with the puck, but he’s doing a lot of coasting. Not sure if that’s his style of play, he’s tentative, or if he’s just struggling from being back after the long layoff. But it wasn’t a great showing. Hopefully he has a good summer and is able to participate in the development camp and prospects tournament before heading to MSU.

His Medicine Hat tigers are likely to lose in the final as they are down 4-1 with 5 minutes to play.

 

[CBJx614]

I’m not going to take much from this as he hasn’t played a lot of hockey (obviously) over the year +, but he’s not really moving very well out there. Hes physical, and he’s good with the puck, but he’s doing a lot of coasting. Not sure if that’s his style of play, he’s tentative, or if he’s just struggling from being back after the long layoff. But it wasn’t a great showing. Hopefully he has a good summer and is able to participate in the development camp and prospects tournament before heading to MSU.

His Medicine Hat tigers are likely to lose in the final as they are down 4-1 with 5 minutes to play.

Gotta think his condition is down substantially from what it could be. Let's hope for a strong off-season and a good showing at camp.

 

[alphafox]

At this point reps of any type are progress. I can't imagine how cautious I would be given the medical condition and what is on the line. I'm chalking all of this up as a rehab.

 

[KJ Dangler]

I don’t know enough about the surgery .. but I wonder if his explosiveness returns or not ? Never really even saw that burst once he returned .. Honestly we probably won’t know until the fall now .. I do wonder if the CBJ signed off on him playing with the thought it could certainly help in a trade situation this summer him being able to return back to play …

 

[Nanabijou]

At this point reps of any type are progress. I can't imagine how cautious I would be given the medical condition and what is on the line. I'm chalking all of this up as a rehab.

That's where I am too. I watched the game and agree that he didn't look that impressive out there. But, to me, just being able to play at all this season and not have the back seize up or something is a positive. Hopefully he trains all summer without issue and heads off to college next year where he can get in a good training schedule that meshes well with the ncaa schedule.

 

[stevo61]

player misses calendar year. Player doesn't get to train to maximum effort and doesn't get a ton of practices in before stepping into the highest level competition at his level. Player doesn't play at 100% and people try and form proper evaluations right now is ridiculous and just planting a seed of doubt in your own minds for absolutely 0 reason

 

[hockey17jp]

player misses calendar year. Player doesn't get to train to maximum effort and doesn't get a ton of practices in before stepping into the highest level competition at his level. Player doesn't play at 100% and people. To try and form proper evaluations right now is ridiculous and just planting a seed of doubt in your own minds for absolutely 0 reason

You're not wrong but the seed of doubt isn't being planted in people's minds for 0 reason.

The seed of doubt is getting planted because the team willingly spent a top 5 pick on a guy with a bad back and then was surprised when his bad back caused him to miss an entire year of development.