F Cayden Lindstrom - Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL (2024, 4th, CBJ)

[Viqsi]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1828394224095535255

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5724709/2024/08/27/blue-jackets-lindstrom-training-camp/

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Don’t be alarmed. None of this is unexpected, the Columbus Blue Jackets say. They knew patience would need to be in long supply when they drafted center Cayden Lindstrom with the No. 4 overall pick in June.

Lindstrom, who missed a large chunk of last season with a back injury, has been limited most of the summer as he works his way back to what he and the club will be lasting health.

But Lindstrom has already been ruled out of participating next month (Sept. 13-16) when the club’s top prospects travel to Buffalo for the NHL Prospects Challenge.

And, as of Monday, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell allowed that Lindstrom is likely to be “limited” when the team opens training camp on Sept. 19 in Nationwide Arena. (Actually, he’ll be a name to watch one day earlier, when players go through pre-camp physicals.)

“Before we drafted him, we had all of the MRIs, all the tests, and everything else from his agents and doctors,” Waddell said. “This is something he’s going to get better from, but we want to be really careful with it. I’ve said all along, we’re going to slow-play this one.

“We’ve had great communication on this, not just with Cayden and his agent, but with our training staff and our doctors. This is an important player for us, obviously, and the focus is on the future. I’ve told everybody involved that I’m not worried about today. I’m looking at the future.

“It’s not like we’re trying to rush him back to play on opening night.”

“But it’s fair to say he hasn’t been pushing it to his limits (skating) all summer, like a lot of guys have been,” [Lindstrom's agent] Hermiston said. “So you can understand why they’re wanting to take it slow. They’ve been awesome with Cayden, they really have.”

Even if Lindstrom were medically cleared today, Waddell said Lindstrom was off the ice so much this summer that there’s “not a chance” he’d play in Buffalo.

 

[The Last Red]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5724709/2024/08/27/blue-jackets-lindstrom-training-camp/

When someone says “Don’t be alarmed” . . . it’s probably time to get a bit alarmed.

 

[FlyguyOX]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5724709/2024/08/27/blue-jackets-lindstrom-training-camp/

Yeah, exactly why I've stayed away from him in my dynasty leagues. If this is something he has to manage the rest of his life, which is definitely possible but doesn't necessarily prohibit him from playing hockey, then that is a big risk for missing time every season. Look at Mark Stone.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

This isn’t good news, but I see no reason to panic yet. Wait until he’s not partaking in a normal preseason. Seems completely rational for a player coming off a big injury to not be 100% and ready to go from day 1 of training camp.

 

[majormajor]

This isn’t good news, but I see no reason to panic yet. Wait until he’s not partaking in a normal preseason.

It sounds like they won't have him playing a normal schedule in junior to start the season.

 

[Michoulicious]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1828394224095535255

Yeah, that is exactly what I feared and why he was not in my top 10 pre draft.

On talent/potential alone, he was a top 10 pick all day long, but a symptomatic herniated disk was just too big of a risk for an athlete practicing a physical, contact sport.... Especially given the talent in that early first round.

Wish the kid the best, rooting for him.

 

[majormajor]

Yeah, that is exactly what I feared and why he was not in my top 10 pre draft.

On talent/potential alone, he was a top 10 pick all day long, but a symptomatic herniated disk was just too big of a risk for an athlete practicing a physical, contact sport.... Especially given the talent in that early first round.

Wish the kid the best, rooting for him.

I think he would have been consensus #2 if not for the back concerns. The back concerns were well priced in.

 

[Michoulicious]

I think he would have been consensus #2 if not for the back concerns. The back concerns were well priced in.

I disagree.

That is selling short Demidov, Levshunov, etc to say he would have been consensus #2 without the back issues.

He was not head and shoulders above the rest of the guys drafted in the top 10 at all.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I disagree.

That is selling short Demidov, Levshunov, etc to say he would have been consensus #2 without the back issues.

He was not head and shoulders above the rest of the guys drafted in the top 10 at all.

On talent and potential, he was. People talk about the unicorn thing with Sennecke, but that’s all “if he does this, if he does that” type of talk. Lindstrom was actually showing it on the ice already. The injury is concern though, big time. This is what people feared.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Power forward with back issues before even being drafted.

I dunno man, definitely not a death sentence or anything for his career but I was a still a little surprised he went top 5 and that had nothing to do with how good at hockey he was. Hope he can get and stay healthy, my kind of center.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Man, this has BUST POTENTIAL written all over it.

The next Nolan Patrick, Jesse Puljujarvi. Wasting such a high pick will set them back a couple more years.

 

[The Last Red]

I think he would have been consensus #2 if not for the back concerns. The back concerns were well priced in.

Nondense.

 

[crosbyshow]

On talent and potential, he was. People talk about the unicorn thing with Sennecke, but that’s all “if he does this, if he does that” type of talk. Lindstrom was actually showing it on the ice already. The injury is concern though, big time. This is what people feared.

Lindstrom had 19 assists in 32 games...in Juniors....on a good team. It's not good at all..

I watched him play and he has a below average vision.

Even healthy I had In order ( forwards) Celebrini
Demidov
Catton
Sennecke
Iginla
..and then Lindstrom

People were blind by Lindstrom's size but Catton will have a better career cause he is a lot more smarter in the ice

 

[Garbageyuk]

Lindstrom had 19 assists in 32 games...in Juniors....on a good team. It's not good at all..

I watched him play and he has a below average vision.

Even healthy I had In order ( forwards) Celebrini
Demidov
Catton
Sennecke
Iginla
..and then Lindstrom

People were blind by Lindstrom's size but Catton will have a better career cause he is a lot more smarter in the ice

Did I ask for your list? And “people were blind by Lindstrom’s size”? If you’re going to just dismiss other opinions based on your preconceived notions, then I’ll disregard yours the same way.

 

[seafoam]

This isn’t good news, but I see no reason to panic yet. Wait until he’s not partaking in a normal preseason. Seems completely rational for a player coming off a big injury to not be 100% and ready to go from day 1 of training camp.

Especially in a prospects tourney where late round draft picks and undrafted prospects are going to be going balls to the wall to get noticed.

 

[majormajor]

I disagree.

That is selling short Demidov, Levshunov, etc to say he would have been consensus #2 without the back issues.

He was not head and shoulders above the rest of the guys drafted in the top 10 at all.

Demidov maybe, it was close enough that I had him ahead after factoring in Lindstrom's back concerns. Though NHL clubs seemed less enthused about Demidov for whatever reason.

But let's be real, a kid that strong, that fast, that good of a shot (nearly a goal per game last Fall), if he had a clean bill of health, then most years that's a top two pick. If he just kept doing what he did last Fall you would have seen him rise up the lists over the year. Some had him #2 even factoring in the health concerns - #2 on hockeyprospect's list, and that's the best endorsement you can get.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Lindstrom had 19 assists in 32 games...in Juniors....on a good team. It's not good at all..

I watched him play and he has a below average vision.

Even healthy I had In order ( forwards) Celebrini
Demidov
Catton
Sennecke
Iginla
..and then Lindstrom

People were blind by Lindstrom's size but Catton will have a better career cause he is a lot more smarter in the ice

"A lot more smarter".

 

[crosbyshow]

"A lot more smarter".

....second language.....

 

[jfhabs]

Demidov maybe, it was close enough that I had him ahead after factoring in Lindstrom's back concerns. Though NHL clubs seemed less enthused about Demidov for whatever reason.

But let's be real, a kid that strong, that fast, that good of a shot (nearly a goal per game last Fall), if he had a clean bill of health, then most years that's a top two pick. If he just kept doing what he did last Fall you would have seen him rise up the lists over the year. Some had him #2 even factoring in the health concerns - #2 on hockeyprospect's list, and that's the best endorsement you can get.

He had the most #2 votes in Mackenzie's pre-draft poll.

'In the case of Demidov, he is, in the eyes of our scouting panel, the clear consensus No. 2 choice behind Celebrini. Six of the 10 scouts surveyed had him at No. 2. All 10 had him in their top five. No other prospect in the draft, save Celebrini, had Top 5 unanimity.'

Bob McKenzie's Final NHL Draft Ranking: Many attractive and diverse options after Macklin Celebrini | TSN

I think he's a clear top 10 pick in any draft, but you have to take into account the team/league he plays in AND the injuries.

Anaheim simply doesn't draft Russian out of Russia. They picked like 2 guys with a later round pick since 2010. They might've had Demidov higher, but wouldn't draft him.

For me, I liked Catton better, but would've picked Lindstrom ahead anyway because these guys are harder to find.

 

[Static]

On talent and potential, he was. People talk about the unicorn thing with Sennecke, but that’s all “if he does this, if he does that” type of talk. Lindstrom was actually showing it on the ice already. The injury is concern though, big time. This is what people feared.

Sennecke and lindstrom have around the same amount of sample size of dominant play, the only difference is lindstrom because of injury and sennecke because of his physical development. They really aren't that dissimilar.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I was not a big fan of either Sennecke or Lindstrom, but I would take Lindstrom no questions asked. More premium position. Better athlete. Better production last year.

He's less skilled and Sennecke doesn't have the same injury concerns, but I don't think I buy into Sennecke's skill being top 5 pick level skill (especially with him not putting up that level of stats last season) and I think you have to trust your doctors. If they clear Lindstrom, he's good to go. Don't spook yourself out (when you don't actually understand the intricacies of the medical issue he has) from taking him if the medical experts say it's not something to be worried about going forward.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Sennecke and lindstrom have around the same amount of sample size of dominant play, the only difference is lindstrom because of injury and sennecke because of his physical development. They really aren't that dissimilar.

The difference is that Lindstrom already plays like what you are hoping Sennecke turns into if he puts it all together, and he still has as much room for growth as anyone in the draft.

Stats aside, they are quite different. Lindstrom plays a fast, powerful, hard-nosed game. He’s much more polished defensively, and utilizes his physical frame much more effectively. He’s also much better at things like zone-entries, puck protection, weaving through traffic and dirty areas, and board battles. And he has a fantastic set of mitts himself, to the point where I really don’t think Sennecke has an advantage in that department, despite it being one of his standout attributes. Lindstrom’s shot is significantly better as well.

Sennecke on the other hand is extremely raw, both in terms of physicality, and decision-making and style of game. He plays a very junior style, i.e., loves to dipsy-doodle around the offensive zone on the perimeter, or will try to stick handle through 3 or 4 guys. A lot of the plays in his highlights just aren’t going to fly at the NHL level. And he doesn’t currently excel in all the other areas that Lindstrom does to make up for these deficiencies.

Lindstrom also needs to work on his decision-making, but more in the way of utilizing his teammates more and being more varied in his approach in the offensive zone. He already plays a very pro-style game and does a lot of the little things well already.

Thats the big difference between the two, imo. The Ducks are obviously betting heavily on the creativity aspect of Sennecke’s game, along with his possible physical attributes in the future, and think that will be the difference. Lindstrom’s injury undoubtedly factored into their decision as well, like it would for any team.

It remains to be seen who made the right call, obviously.

 

[tomd]

The difference is that Lindstrom already plays like what you are hoping Sennecke turns into if he puts it all together, and he still has as much room for growth as anyone in the draft.

Stats aside, they are quite different. Lindstrom plays a fast, powerful, hard-nosed game. He’s much more polished defensively, and utilizes his physical frame much more effectively. He’s also much better at things like zone-entries, puck protection, weaving through traffic and dirty areas, and board battles. And he has a fantastic set of mitts himself, to the point where I really don’t think Sennecke has an advantage in that department, despite it being one of his standout attributes.

Sennecke on the other hand is extremely raw, both in terms of physicality, and decision-making and style of game. He plays a very junior style, i.e., loves to dipsy-doodle around the offensive zone on the perimeter, or will try to stick handle through 3 or 4 guys. A lot of the plays in his highlights just aren’t going to fly at the NHL level. And he doesn’t currently excel in all the other areas that Lindstrom does to make up for these deficiencies.

Lindstrom also needs to work on his decision-making, but more in the way of utilizing his teammates more and being more varied in his approach in the offensive zone. He already plays a very pro-style game and does a lot of the little things well already.

Thats the big difference between the two, imo. The Ducks are obviously betting heavily on the creativity aspect of Sennecke’s game, along with his possible physical attributes in the future, and think that will be the difference. Lindstrom’s injury undoubtedly factored into their decision as well, like it would for any team.

It remains to be seen who made the right call, obviously.

The Ducks under Madden have frequently placed a premium on trajectory and both Sennecke and Solberg had two of the steepest trajectories in the draft. Sennecke was arguably the best player in junior hockey in the 2nd half of the year. Time will tell but his upside is thru the roof.

 

[Static]

The difference is that Lindstrom already plays like what you are hoping Sennecke turns into if he puts it all together, and he still has as much room for growth as anyone in the draft.

Stats aside, they are quite different. Lindstrom plays a fast, powerful, hard-nosed game. He’s much more polished defensively, and utilizes his physical frame much more effectively. He’s also much better at things like zone-entries, puck protection, weaving through traffic and dirty areas, and board battles. And he has a fantastic set of mitts himself, to the point where I really don’t think Sennecke has an advantage in that department, despite it being one of his standout attributes.

Sennecke on the other hand is extremely raw, both in terms of physicality, and decision-making and style of game. He plays a very junior style, i.e., loves to dipsy-doodle around the offensive zone on the perimeter, or will try to stick handle through 3 or 4 guys. A lot of the plays in his highlights just aren’t going to fly at the NHL level. And he doesn’t currently excel in all the other areas that Lindstrom does to make up for these deficiencies.

Lindstrom also needs to work on his decision-making, but more in the way of utilizing his teammates more and being more varied in his approach in the offensive zone. He already plays a very pro-style game and does a lot of the little things well already.

Thats the big difference between the two, imo. The Ducks are obviously betting heavily on the creativity aspect of Sennecke’s game, along with his possible physical attributes in the future, and think that will be the difference.

A lot of this can be explained by their physicality. Lindstrom has had a lot more time playing in his frame; sennecke is almost just now understanding how to after the massive growth spurt.

But my point still stands. There seems to be a misconception that lindstrom has put up elite numbers as a junior player in a large sample size, but for the most part he has also been all physical projection. The difference is, he has had that projection for longer because he has had his size for longer.

He's a wonderful prospect who I hope has success, but your original premise doesn't hold much water. Both prospects have been dominant for roughly 40-50 games as junior players.

 

[Garbageyuk]

A lot of this can be explained by their physicality. Lindstrom has had a lot more time playing in his frame; sennecke is almost just now understanding how to after the massive growth spurt.

But my point still stands. There seems to be a misconception that lindstrom has put up elite numbers as a junior player in a large sample size, but for the most part he has also been all physical projection. The difference is, he has had that projection for longer because he has had his size for longer.

He's a wonderful prospect who I hope has success, but your original premise doesn't hold much water. Both prospects have been dominant for roughly 40-50 games as junior players.

My premise that they are very different players aside from their size, and that Lindstrom plays a much more pro-style game and does a lot of little things well that Sennecke hasn’t shown thus far? That “doesn’t hold much water”, really? Anyone who’s watched both players beyond just YouTube highlights would know that’s an accurate position.

You can argue that you think Sennecke has higher upside, you can argue that you think he’ll end up the better player, but trying to deny something that’s blatantly obvious to anyone who’s actually watched both players is ridiculous, and shows that you really don’t know what you’re talking about.