Lindholm has played 3 games since his return from injury on Nov 23rd. The previous game before then was Nov 5th. At Nov. 5, Lindholm lead the team with 9 assists. Seems like cherry picking to me. I mean if you can say "
Terry is directly responsible for 4 of our last 6 goals", then why can't you also say, "
Lindholm is directly responsible for Fowler's 5 points in the past 3 games".
With Lindholm in the lineup recently, Fowler has 5 points in three games with a + 4 plus/minus rating. Since Lindholm fell to injury on Nov 5, Fowler managed 2 points in six games with a -2 plus/minus rating.
These comments feel like legacy commentary about Lindholm like always. Lindholm doesn't possess the "counting stats" and isn't as valuable as Fowler, who does put up "counting stats". It's odd b/c Lindholm was leading the team in assist in 15 games, when he fell to injury. Now, Lindholm is still a top-10 scorer for the Ducks with only 18 games played. Everyone else above him has played more games than him, with a max of 26 games.
Sure, Lindholm doesn't have points, but his effect on the team weighs far more than "counting stats" as it helps to result in points.
| Without Lindholm | | | | | |
| Games | Date | PF | PA | Diff | |
| 18 | 10-Nov | 2 | 6 | -4 | |
| 19 | 12-Nov | 3 | 4 | -1 | OT |
| 20 | 14-Nov | 3 | 5 | -2 | |
| 21 | 16-Nov | 4 | 1 | 3 | w |
| 22 | 18-Nov | 2 | 5 | -3 | |
| 23 | 21-Nov | 4 | 5 | -1 | OT |
| | | | | |
| Sum | | 18 | 26 | -8 | |
| Average | | 3 | 4.333333 | -1.33333 | |
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versus
| With Lindholm | | | | | |
| Games | Date | GF | GA | Diff | |
| 24 | 23-Nov | 2 | 6 | -4 | |
| 25 | 25-Nov | 3 | 0 | 3 | w |
| 26 | 27-Nov | 3 | 3 | 0 | sol |
| | | | | |
| Sum | | 8 | 9 | -1 | |
| Average | | 2.666667 | 3 | -0.33333 | |
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Although I'd like Lindholm to score more points, just his presence on the ice alone carries immense value to this team than "individual counting stats". We have three points in three games. We've reduced the average goals against by over a goal. We've reduced our average goal differential by a whole goal. I like those "team counting stats". But hey, let's continue to look down on Lindholm as if his presence isn't a positive one.
