I just wanted to see how far people would go. Was curious if people would still try to claim he's not even a top-10 winger.
Fair one.
My point stands though. He's very close to a top 10 forward in the league, and it wouldn't surprise many people (who have been paying attention) if he picks up his scoring pace. There are a lot of D-men who are just as good or better than Lindholm as he stands now. We can speculate all we want, but the Flames would be daft to trade Gaudreau for Lindholm straight-up, even if they had a need on defense. Proven top-10 scorer vs. a low-end #1. Will Lindholm improve? Almost certainly. Will he prove to be one of the top 10 D-men in the league? I find that prospect hard to imagine, but maybe.
Eh, it's a tough thing to quantify, 'top 10 scorer' vs. 'low end' #1 D. Panarin', Kuznetsov and Wheeler were top 10 scorers this year. D. Sedin, Hudler and Voracek were last year. Nothing wrong with any of those guys, but I can name a lot of lower or mid #1's that I'd take over them.
I have my questions about Lindholm still, especially offensively. I think he only had 10-15 even strength points despite playing 80 games at top pair minutes. Maybe he'll answer them this year. I don't have any questions about Gaudreau, and despite him being a winger, I see him as a much more valuable piece as it stands right now.
That's fair enough. I'm just closer to the opposite stance.
I don't have a lot of questions on Lindholm, personally. To be in the position he has as a 22 year old is something that not a lot of players have done. It's one thing to be a defacto #1 on a terrible team and not-be-that-bad at it, it's another to do it on a good team, with a good defense, and do very well. If he were 25 it'd be another story, but 22 is pretty special.
I do have some questions on Gaudreau. The talent is undeniable, but one season at almost a PPG as a 22 year old isn't enough to me to say he's some can't-miss legend. It's been done. Regularly. Every single year there are forwards that absolutely tear it up for their first year or two or three and then come down to earth somewhat. Do I think that's going to happen to Gaudreau? Not at all. My money is on him improving. But do I think he'll be a top 5 forward? No.
I guess, put simply, what tips the scales on Lindholm to me is the rarity of it. 22 year olds become #1 D's less often than they rack up points as a forward. By a lot. If Gaudreau, as a winger, tops out as the 10th best forward in the NHL and Lindholm the 15th best D, I would happily take Lindholm.
