“If I had to compare him to anyone, it would be Eric Lindros.” Former Canucks, Vancouver and Los Angeles Kings coach Willie Desjardins makes this shocking statement simply without changing his tone, describing his gem, Cayden Lindstrom, one of the headliners before the 2024 draft.
On social networks, especially The WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers center is everything National League teams dream of: tough, tough and extremely talented.
Let his numbers speak for themselves: 46 points, including 27 goals, but also 66 penalty minutes in just… 32 games.
“For a moment he was the leader in penalty minutes,” recalled Desjardins, the Tigers’ head coach and general manager, during an interview with TVASports.ca. There are many people with skills. Bigger guys too, but they're not as lumbering and mean as Cayden. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a man like him.”
Lindstrom is an athlete. This is the case with most players at his level, that goes without saying. But the main interest is in the truest sense of the word.
Like a football player
“I think he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds last summer,” says Desjardins of his attacker, who has long competed in track and field.
“I started in primary school and finished in secondary school [“middle school”]explains Lindstrom. In the summer I still run on the slopes two to three times a week. In the off-season I train almost like a football player. I make sharp turns on the grass to improve my agility. This helps me to be fluid on the ice despite my size.
We don't take away from his work ethic and his attitude – very professional, according to people in the industry – but it's clear that the genetic lottery favored Lindstrom.
“There are people who have told me that with his punching power he could become a Canadian boxing champion,” admits Desjardins. Of course, that doesn't mean anything, but he has assets that would allow him to be successful in other sports.
A surprise
In the midseason rankings released by Central Recruiting, Lindstrom's name appears third on the North American list.
Willie Desjardins would like to say he planned it the day Lindstrom came to Medicine Hat at age 15. He would have felt great.
However, Lindstrom, a modest third-round pick in the WHL draft, was not expected to be a future major junior superstar.
“I could pretend I was really intelligent and tell you I knew it all along,” Desjardins says before bursting into laughter. It kind of came out of nowhere. He surprised me. He has always been physically strong. But every other aspect of his game has evolved and reached new levels. When he came to us he wasn't great defensively. It's much better now. He also sees the ice better.”
In a text message exchange, Lindstrom's agent, Daren Hermiston, offered some insightful explanations for his client's late advances. Hailing from Chetwynd, a small village in northern British Columbia, Lindstrom didn't have access to the same resources as young players who quickly integrated into the elite and were based closer to major centers.
“He probably has the highest upside in the draft, especially because he played at the single letter A, all the way up to the midget level, which elevates Hermiston.” And he didn't play center until he came to the WHL. Most of these boys have participated in rigorous programs and advanced skating lessons since the age of eight. Cayden began to benefit from such aftercare in the last three years.”
Next year in the NHL?
At 18, Lindstrom is in a class of his own in terms of physical maturity and isn't ruling out the possibility of playing on the Bettman circuit next season.
“Honestly, yes, if I continue down this path,” says the young man, who says he has a style similar to Roope Hintz or Auston Matthews. I still have to work on my defensive game, but it’s definitely possible.”
A candidate for the Canadians? Presumably they would like to get their hands on a horse like this to complete their midline. But for that to happen, CH has to keep losing games. This isn't an excuse for “tanking,” it's a reality: Lindstrom is ranked fifth on Bob McKenzie's latest list and is often the most reliable in the business.
“I talked to the Canadiens scouts a little bit,” Lindstrom said. It was good. These are good people. I know you have some pretty crazy supporters in Montreal. I love it and the organization has a rich history. The market doesn’t intimidate me.”
At the time of writing, the Habs own the seventh lottery ticket. He would need a lucky break to claim Lindstrom.
Optimists will say that the wrist injury that has kept the underdog out of the game – and caused him to miss the top contender's game – could easily set him back. Well, it's apparently nothing very serious.
“I broke a little part of my hand,” Lindstrom said. Nothing important. They removed a useless bone in the wrist area. My fitness will consist of regaining mobility in my wrist, which has been inactive for a while.
“After a few weeks I should regain my sensations and everything should go back to normal.”
Lindstrom mass
- About Chetwynd, his hometown: “It's a very small town where you can pretty much only play hockey. With the exception of two months of the year, it is winter all year round. There are a lot of outdoor rinks and we had our own ice in our backyard.”
- As a youth, he was a fan of the Washington Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin
- He plays with a racket with a flex index of 75: “I thought about going up a bit, but I like my racket to be flexible. Given my weight, I might opt for something stiffer, but I don’t think that will happen.”