The 2024 NHL Entry Draft will be here before we know it, so it’s time to start looking at who the Blue Jackets could pick with the fourth overall pick on Friday, June 28.
Imagine it’s the year 2027. The Blue Jackets have a 6’2″ first-line center and all-star in Adam Fantilli. Centering the second line is a 6’3″ center who also brings physicality, speed, and skill to the middle of the ice. Who can say no to that?
The Blue Jackets have never had a true number-one center (until now). They have also never had the legitimate one-two punch at center that has helped teams like the Lightning, Penguins, and Maple Leafs get and stay good.
The argument for Lindstrom writes itself. He’s a big, skilled center who Scott Wheeler says “looks like a safely projectable second-line center.” Sillinger and Voronkov have looked promising, but saying that either will end up as a true second-line center could be a bit of a stretch. Also, if you look at the long-term success of the club, you would like to have a higher-ceiling center that can step up in the unfortunate event that Fantilli ends up on the injured reserve.
The argument against Lindstrom is two-fold. First, there is a slight health concern. He missed significant portions of this past season due to issues with both his hand and his back. Second, the “best player available” strategy always produces controversy. Who has a ceiling for being a more valuable player in the long term? Demidov, Silayev, Levshunov, or Lindstrom? You can certainly argue that the former three are better in a vacuum. But what if a combination of organizational need, prospects already in the system, and players signed long-term makes Lindstrom the best available player for the Blue Jackets?
There’s an outside chance Lindstrom is picked at 2nd or 3rd. If he’s not, I’m not sure how you pass on him as a compliment to the players already in (or on their way to) Columbus.
Position: Center
Team: Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Date of Birth: February 3, 2006
Birthplace: Chetwynd, British Columbia
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 214 lbs
Shoots: Left
Rankings
Ranked #4 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #3 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #5 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #10 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #4 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #6 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #4 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #3 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #8 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #8 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #3 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #5 by ISS HOCKEY
Ranked #11 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #9 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #6 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #4 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #12 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #4 by SMAHT SCOUTING
2023-24 Stats
Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Games: 32
Goals: 27
Assists: 19
Points: 46
PIM: 66
+/-: +12
Scouting Reports
In-zone is where Lindstrom’s tools really shine, getting off the boards into the middle of the ice frequently, using excellent body positioning and puck protection, winning pucks back deep in-zone, and showing small-area puckhandling and awareness that would be the envy of many smaller players. He also has a hard shot but makes a living playing the game “the right way”, getting to the dirty areas of the ice, playing through checks, utilizing smart off-puck routes, taking high-quality shots, setting up his teammates, and finishing his checks hard. While Lindstrom has a high floor of a physical, two-way centre with a strong possession game, it is easy to envision him using his offensive pop to turn into a high-end top six forward, especially if he can stay healthy.
Luke Sweeney, Dobber Prospects
Lindstrom is a big, strong center with prototypical power forward tools as an excellent skater who already uses his size to his advantage, whether through finishing his checks, shielding pucks, pushing through contact or going to the net front to provide screens. He’s also got decent-to-very-good skill and quick hands, both in flight and around the net and the wall. He can play off of the puck, take up space in front and make plays in tight, or jump into space off the rush with his skating, play on the cycle and stay over pucks to help his team maintain possession inside the offensive zone, create in transition — putting defenders on their heels with a head of steam — and even make skill plays from a standstill inside the offensive zone. He’s a strong, powerful skater who can pull away in open ice and win races. He’s also strong in the faceoff circle and distinctively competitive. He looks like a safely projectable second-line center, which at his height and with his skating would make him a pretty rare player type in the league. There are some who believe he might even have first-line upside as well.
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic