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

[wetcoast]

Right because Columbus couldn't use a PPG forward. This is excuse-making for bad drafting at the highest level.

But you seem to be skipping over the supreme lack of depth and prospects that Columbus had at center and how big skilled centers are valued and that Johnny Hockey was still in the picture when these drafts happened.

I say this as someone who thought that Michkov was the second best player available on draft day in his draft year but I also understand why Carlsson and Fantilli were picked.

I also thought that Demidov should have been second last year but the Hawks went a different route which I think was the wrong choice.

the injury today is worrisome but on draft day there were other teams who would have taken Lindstrom over Demidov as well.

 

[Monk]

I was posting in this forum at the time and I remember very succinctly that after the draft lottery was made that Michkov was not even really discussed for Columbus as an option. He was thought to be much more of an option for Montreal, even a team like Anaheim. Washington was talked about a lot. I think even Utah (Arizona) and San Jose were talked about more often than Columbus. It was viewed pretty definitive that Columbus was not interested in Michkov. So maybe they knew right after the draft lottery that he would refuse to play for them and for that reason they had no interest, but it seems more to me that Columbus didn't consider the player, whether he would've wanted to go there or not. I am not going to take the time to look for a source, but as someone who consumes draft coverage, I remember this as a main talking point at the time.

And I said pretty clearly that I am talking about fans. It's talking out of both sides of one's mouth to be taking such different stances, so no, I am not confused. Stick to addressing what I actually said and stop your incorrect presumptions to try to discredit me.

OK well you are misremembering and incorrect.

Go talk about Michkov in the Michkov thread.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[Gravity]

Perhaps I'm the only Habs fan who finds it disrespectful that a bunch of "fellow" Habs fans keep gloating that they got Demidov in this thread (or that CBJ passed on Demidov) and making CBJ feel worse for Lindstrom being out.

I hope Lindstrom makes a full recovery and is able to become that mean, nasty 2C behind Fantilli.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

Perhaps I'm the only Habs fan who finds it disrespectful that a bunch of "fellow" Habs fans keep gloating that they got Demidov in this thread (or that CBJ passed on Demidov) and making CBJ feel worse for Lindstrom being out.

I hope Lindstrom makes a full recovery and is able to become that mean, nasty 2C behind Fantilli.

It reminds me of when we were absolutely shit on for taking PLD over Puljujarvi. Which is hilarious to look back on now on a few different levels.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I was posting in this forum at the time and I remember very succinctly that after the draft lottery was made that Michkov was not even really discussed for Columbus as an option. He was thought to be much more of an option for Montreal, even a team like Anaheim. Washington was talked about a lot. I think even Utah (Arizona) and San Jose were talked about more often than Columbus. It was viewed pretty definitive that Columbus was not interested in Michkov. So maybe they knew right after the draft lottery that he would refuse to play for them and for that reason they had no interest, but it seems more to me that Columbus didn't consider the player, whether he would've wanted to go there or not. I am not going to take the time to look for a source, but as someone who consumes draft coverage, I remember this as a main talking point at the time.

And I said pretty clearly that I am talking about fans. It's talking out of both sides of one's mouth to be taking such different stances, so no, I am not confused. Stick to addressing what I actually said and stop your incorrect presumptions to try to discredit me.

he wasn't an option because he likely told teams he would finish his contract in Russia and hold out until they traded him. We know he wouldn't sign with Utah or Washington. If Columbus didn't meet with him it is because he refused to meet with them. I would think he even an idiot like Kekalainen would meet with all players whether he had interest in them or not.

 

[majormajor]

In the full interview, Waddell says that Cayden Lindstrom is "pain free completely".

Simply fantastic news.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

For reference:

2024-25 Blue Jackets Midseason Q&A with GM Don Waddell - The Hockey Writers Columbus Blue Jackets Latest News, Analysis & More

Blue Jackets President and GM Don Waddell stopped by for an exclusive midseason Q&A. We discuss season takeaways, areas of improvement & more.

thehockeywriters.com

THW: How’s Cayden Lindstrom progressing along?

Waddell: “Very well. He’s not skating yet. I’ve said this too many times probably. We’re really being cautious. We know what this year’s meant. We want to make sure we get this player to the point where this isn’t an issue anymore. So right now, he’s doing a little bit of stuff. He’s pain free completely and as we continue on the next few weeks, we’ll start ramping up on him.”

THW: Is there a chance he could miss the rest of the season?

Waddell: “Possibly. I mean, it’s too early to tell. We’ll see how this next month goes. But if there’s no reason. If he’s ready, he’s ready. If not, there’s no reason to rush back to play a few games this year.”

 

[GaboriklessWild]

It doesn't really mean much if he is "pain free" when he is doing very little or no work. The pain comes when you put your body under stress.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It doesn't really mean much if he is "pain free" when he is doing very little or no work. The pain comes when you put your body under stress.

Not always. These back injuries can occur at different times and during different circumstances, depending on the person.

 

[stevo61]

Pain free is a major step, not a very intelligent post. It's one of many steps in the process and an obvious milestone they were hoping to accomplish with the surgery

 

[Erika]

Not always. These back injuries can occur at different times and during different circumstances, depending on the person.

Like the poster above said, pain free doesn't mean anything.
He might be pain free at home watching Tv and eating Hotdogs on his couch, but will he be pain free when he wears his hockey equipment, skating at full speed with his body compressed, or when he receives full force body checks from real hockey players ?

I doubt it, if he was, he would be close to coming back right now and not in an uncertain situation. Obvioulsy, there's still issues that the Jackets don't want to tell publicly.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Like the poster above said, pain free doesn't mean anything.
He might be pain free at home watching Tv and eating Hotdogs on his couch, but will he be pain free when he wears his hockey equipment, skating at full speed with his body compressed, or when he receives full force body checks from real hockey players ?

I doubt it, if he was, he would be close to coming back right now and not in an uncertain situation. Obvioulsy, there's still issues that the Jackets don't want to tell publicly.

We don’t know the circumstances of his injury is my point. These injuries aren’t always from playing in games. Sometimes they crop up in other parts of your life, so the idea that it’s no step at all being pain free when he’s not playing hockey isn’t something I agree with and for all we know it’s the biggest step and hockey will be a smaller step.

 

[GaboriklessWild]

Not always. These back injuries can occur at different times and during different circumstances, depending on the person.

His injury is clearly hockey related, disc herniation, which is very common in contact sports

 

[Palmu]

Actually sciatica nerve pain occurs quite often when you are just sitting doing nothing.

So yeah pain free in this situation is pretty damn good news.

 

[stevo61]

Actually sciatica nerve pain occurs quite often when you are just sitting doing nothing.

So yeah pain free in this situation is pretty damn good news.

I don't know if people who haven't experienced it actually understand how it works, theyll speak confidently on it though. Hopefully they haven't but it's absolutely brutal and it's usually doing ordinary life things that can set it off.

 

[AndBoomGoesTheCannon]

His injury is clearly hockey related, disc herniation, which is very common in contact sports

It was a lifting injury.

 

[GaboriklessWild]

It was a lifting injury.

It is unlikely that weightlifting would have been the primary cause of such an injury. Only if the guy is an idiot and doesn't do the exercises properly. Impact to the back is the most common cause of such an injury, like in hockey from a cross-check or boarding crash.

Lifting weights instead of resting back may have made the injury worse. But the cause of the injury is probably hockey, as such injuries are very common. Guys like Zetterberg, Couturier, Parise, Subban.... they didn't play nearly as well as they could after that injury.

 

[Palmu]

Of course weightlifting can cause such an injury. When the weights get heavier, risk of getting an injury rises. You are right that lifting weights could have made it worse, but wrong about resting as it will also have a negative effect.

With sciatica you have to be extra careful as the Jackets are doing now. If you start training too early, the sciatica can become chronic and then it would be really difficult to get rid of.

 

[Double Dion]

I'm a big WHL fan and Lindstrom is an awesome kid. I'm really hoping he pans out. That said, I've got my doubts. He has all the tools except hockey sense. That can be a tough one to overcome. Catton was miles better in their draft year and somehow Tij and Cayden went ahead of him.

 

[majormajor]

It is unlikely that weightlifting would have been the primary cause of such an injury.

What are you talking about, the squat rack is probably the number one cause of injury in the general population. It's extremely common. Sometimes from poor technique, but sometimes some people should just not do it. They might have a genetic back weakness or perhaps something otherwise harmless like legs being too long for it.

 

[FlyguyOX]

It is unlikely that weightlifting would have been the primary cause of such an injury. Only if the guy is an idiot and doesn't do the exercises properly. Impact to the back is the most common cause of such an injury, like in hockey from a cross-check or boarding crash.

Lifting weights instead of resting back may have made the injury worse. But the cause of the injury is probably hockey, as such injuries are very common. Guys like Zetterberg, Couturier, Parise, Subban.... they didn't play nearly as well as they could after that injury.

Flat out false. Very common weightlifting injury.

 

[stevo61]

Weightlifting is how I jacked my back up. Even happens to the pro's with good form. Other things that can cause it is simply moving things at home, twisting in a weird way or sneezing hard. People just talk out their ass with some of this stuff when in reality it can be caused by the most routine tasks

 

[FlyguyOX]

Weightlifting is how I jacked my back up. Even happens to the pro's with good form. Other things that can cause it is simply moving things at home, twisting in a weird way or sneezing hard. People just talk out their ass with some of this stuff when in reality it can be caused by the most routine tasks

Yep. Had my first bad back spasms (couldn't even sit on the toilet without tears) after poor deadlifting form. Had it again years later from sneezing while at my desk. Then I shut down weightlifting for 6 months and committed to finding and correcting my weakness/issue that was causing the muscle pulls and debilitating back spasms once and for all. Got with a world class PT, realized I had no idea how to stabilize my spine in every day movements, much less weightlifting. Now I squat and hinge and workout like normal mostly without issue.

 

[stevo61]

Yep. Had my first bad back spasms (couldn't even sit on the toilet without tears) after poor deadlifting form. Had it again years later from sneezing while at my desk. Then I shut down weightlifting for 6 months and committed to finding and correcting my weakness/issue that was causing the muscle pulls and debilitating back spasms once and for all. Got with a world class PT, realized I had no idea how to stabilize my spine in every day movements, much less weightlifting. Now I squat and hinge and workout like normal mostly without issue.

You see a lot of power lifters say things like "don't deadlift unless you are just trying to get good at deadlifting". Risk vs reward there. Now imagine your average Joe at home moving heavy stuff at home with absolutely no idea how to brace his core, have horrible mechanics and just overall be a lot weaker than he wants to admit.

On the brightside it's very fixable and why the no pain from surgery actually was a big deal. Lindstrom will be going through a lot of what you did I imagine. Tons of core work, probably a lot of flexibility work, strengthening things like the spiral erectors with safer movements. I'm about 5 years removed from my injury and the only after effect I sometimes feel (rare) is a tightness in my lower back down to my left glute but it's pretty easy to loosen up and train/work without restriction.

This is why I've been much less worried than most. Add up the success rate for a lot of this, the fact he's a kid who will rebound easier than someone in his 40's and the fact he obviously has a strong work ethic... he'll be fine. He just might be a year behind making the NHL compared to what he could have been