Will Lindholm bounce back ?

[Metalliben]

http://thehockeywriters.com/lindholm-the-swedish-beast-tamed/

What do you think ?
For those who saw him play on a regular basis.

Click to read more...

 

[Roboturner913]

To "bounce back" would imply that he had a real regression last season, which I don't think is the case. The issue is he just didn't take the next step up that people were hoping to see from a player in year 3.

I still maintain we need to put him at center to fairly judge him, he looked like he had a better feel for the game and made better use of the extra space when he did get a chance there.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I have confidence in him. He has all the physical attributes of a very good player in the making, and he doesn't seem like a basket case of a person. At some point it should come together for him.

That said, we kind of need him to get it together in 16-17. If he were to stagnate, that would be a pretty big blow to our team building.

 

[GoldiFox]

To me it seems Lindholm has never really clicked well with anyone. He is a great all around player but he isn't an offensive driver. He consistently shows pockets and stretches of really high-level play but he can't seem to keep it going on a regular basis.

My hope is that putting him next to someone who is a true offensive catalyst, say Sebastian Aho, will push Lindholm to that next level. Aho + Lindholm + x as a third line that exploits offensive situations could be really fun to watch.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

He needs to improve on his skating and strength IMO. He's not fast enough, agile enough, or strong enough to control the puck in traffic and find the necessary space to make a play. He has an under-rated shot, good hands and good vision, but needs to improve on those other things to be able to better utilize those things. Contrast him to Rask who isn't a great skater, but is stronger on his skates, shields the puck better, is stronger in traffic and on the boards and thus able to take advantage of his skills.

As Robo said, it's not really "bouncing back", it's a case of needed to take another step in his development. If he improves his strength and skating, I think he can get there. The good news is he's only 21 so still has time. The bad news is the Canes pretty much wasted at least a year, if not 2 of having him in the NHL before he was ready.

 

[Havoq]

To me it seems Lindholm has never really clicked well with anyone. He is a great all around player but he isn't an offensive driver. He consistently shows pockets and stretches of really high-level play but he can't seem to keep it going on a regular basis.

My hope is that putting him next to someone who is a true offensive catalyst, say Sebastian Aho, will push Lindholm to that next level. Aho + Lindholm + x as a third line that exploits offensive situations could be really fun to watch.

100% agree. Pretty sure he was asked about this in his exit interview and definitely did not deny it.

I think we honestly may have one of the more exciting third lines in the league next year

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I think we honestly may have one of the more exciting third lines in the league next year

I think you are under-estimating this team. We'll probably have 3 of the most exciting third lines in the league next year.

 

[RodTheBawd]

I don't think the numbers back it up, but I always felt like he had the best chemistry with Skinner.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

discuss!

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I think you are under-estimating this team. We'll probably have 3 of the most exciting third lines in the league next year.

 

[Wolfpuck]

I'm basically 50/50 on Lindholm reaching his potential (2nd line-ish scorer). I do agree that slotting him on a line with Aho could definitely ignite his offensive game.

discuss!

Thanks for taking my call, Mike. I'm gonna hang up and listen.

 

[Havoq]

I think you are under-estimating this team. We'll probably have 3 of the most exciting third lines in the league next year.

Touche' good sir

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

“Lindholm was one of just a handful of bright spots on a mediocre Canes team this year. He took a major step forward in ice time, averaging a career-high 18:07 per game, and cemented himself as a top-six player for the Hurricanes.”

What team did they watch????

Lindholm was either invisible (90% of the time) or noticeable in a bad way. I'm told he has the talent of a top-5 pick, but this has yet to show itself consistently, which makes his poor play more aggravating. Unlike, say, Hanifin, where it is clear as day why he was a top-5 pick (of course he still sucked regardless).

There's a wall in the NHL. You break into the League, and every defender will defend you the same way they defend most players: push you to the side, slow you down, keep you away from the net/slot. Then you hit a certain point, and whether because of speed, reputation, talent, strength, or whatever, defenders will back off, give you space to operate because giving you that space is better than playing you close and possibly getting embarrassed. Such as Skinner routinely causing defenders to blow a tire because of his ability to change direction in a 180 degree angle instantaneously, or Rask's combination of adding size, adding speed and being a fairly talented NHL center.

It's been said, but Lindholm is a non-factor. He needs to do something to make NHL defenders give him that space. Then the points will come. Add strength. He's already fairly fast. Maybe a permanent move to center with Skinner and Tolchinsky/Aho/1st rounder we once again rush for no reason playing cupcake minutes will do him good. I hope so. The idea of rolling Lindholm-Rask-Staal for the next 5 years (with the first two 60 point, possession dominant centers) is tantalizing.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

we should kill him tbh

 

[haulinbass]

Outsider opinion from a guy who has followed him quite a bit but probably hasn't watched him as much as you guys.

I thought he looked a lot better as a center. He plays a pretty strong all around game already. For years Carolina has been a team players have struggled to put up a lot of points. I think he just needs to stay at center and continue getting 18+ minutes a night and he will be fine. He makes a lot of good plays and I think his overall game has taken huge strides this year. But if you want more than 60 points from this kid than Carolina needs to find a winger that is capable of forming a line to do so. Not to many players are good enough to put up 75+ points themselves.

Everytime I see him play he looks like one of Carolinas best forwards.

 

[TheOllieC]

He just really had an awful start last year which killed his season-long outlook. As long as he shows up in the Fall, trained and ready to go, I would expect around 50 points. If some skilled wings like Aho and a F/A can be added to the lineup and Lindholm moves to center, I think that will only increase the likeliness of his productivity getting back on track. He looked much better in the middle. I've always thought that's where he should be because he's not a burner with an elite shot, and he's no Kane/Gaudreau with crazy puck skills. He's patient and cerebral with good vision/playmaking and that needs to be utilized at center.

 

[haulinbass]

He just really had an awful start last year which killed his season-long outlook. As long as he shows up in the Fall, trained and ready to go, I would expect around 50 points. If some skilled wings like Aho and a F/A can be added to the lineup and Lindholm moves to center, I think that will only increase the likeliness of his productivity getting back on track. He looked much better in the middle. I've always thought that's where he should be because he's not a burner with an elite shot, and he's no Kane/Gaudreau with crazy puck skills. He's patient and cerebral with good vision/playmaking and that needs to be utilized at center.

Exactly this. If it wasn't for his brutal start he may have hit 50 this season. 50 points would have been all you could ask for from a kid at that age who isn't a 1st overall pick. Can't forget that he also managed to finish 4th on the team in scoring. That says a lot about the difficulty to generate offense on this team.

He isn't that explosive scoring winger with a ton of speed or ability to dangle over the blue line. He plays smart and moves the puck well who also has a good shot to add to that. Playing center gets him moving around more and involved in the play. Something that's hard to do if your not an aggressive, fast, exceptional puck handler. Not many Swedes play that type of game. Just like most other star swedes his game is revolved around being smart playing a calculated game with a good mix of all skills.

I would be surprised if hes not playing center full time on the 1st or 2nd line. The coach really seemed to be gaining trust in him as the season went on. Especially with Eric Staal gone which I think is huge for Lindholm's development at this stage as he is ready for a higher role.

 

[tarheelhockey]

we should kill him tbh

Glad someone finally said what everyone else was thinking

 

[Roboturner913]

Yeah, that shouldn't be overlooked. Considering he had, I believe 2 point in his first 20 games of the season, look at his 37 points in 62 games after that. If he had scored at that relative clip all season he'd be up there with Rask and Staal around the 50-point mark and we'd probably be looking at him a bit differently.

And I mean, he's still just 21. Eric Staal at 21 scored 11 goals and 31 points on a team with similar offensive issues. With Lindholm the jump could be that sudden. Hope so.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

He's started slow in October 2 seasons in a row, but it's not like he was a 50/60 point player if you remove that month.

Oct: 7 point pace
Nov: 38 point pace
Dec: 46 point pace
Jan: 50 point pace
Feb: 41 point pace
Mar: 41 point pace

Pace without October: 43.8 (assuming he plays a full 82 games)

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Yeah, that shouldn't be overlooked. Considering he had, I believe 2 point in his first 20 games of the season, look at his 37 points in 62 games after that. If he had scored at that relative clip all season he'd be up there with Rask and Staal around the 50-point mark and we'd probably be looking at him a bit differently.

And I mean, he's still just 21. Eric Staal at 21 scored 11 goals and 31 points on a team with similar offensive issues. With Lindholm the jump could be that sudden. Hope so.

Eric Staal at 21 scored 70 points, and had 100 the season before that. He also had a full season in the AHL because of the lockout, which probably helped his development immensely.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

yeah staal was 21 the cup year, he was one of the leagues most dominant players

 

[FlyingSquirrels]

JR ruined the kid by rushing him to the NHL a year, maybe 2, before he was ready.

Go Bolts

 

[Roboturner913]

Yeah, bad math, sorry I was thinking he was an 82 birthday not an 84.

 

[The Faulker 27]

The Hurricanes finished 10th with the teams total points at 441. The Red Wings squeaked into the 8th spot and had 549 total points, Islanders (5th) had 602, and the Capitals (1st) 662. So, my point is we need Lindholm to be a 70 point player next season.