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Cayden Lindstrom a Prime Draft Target for the Montreal Canadiens

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Montreal Canadiens NHL Draft - Cayden Lindstrom

The Montreal Canadiens have a few clear-cut targets for their first pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, but few would be as good a fit as Cayden Lindstrom.

When NHL betting odds predicted a bottom-five finish for the Montreal Canadiens this season, excitement over the Habs’ first selection instantly picked up; who would be the reward for this third season of misery?

Obviously, winning the NHL Draft Lottery and selecting Macklin Celebrini would be a game-changer for the franchise. But, assuming all things stay as they are and the Canadiens select 5th or 6th overall, then few players fit the bill for the organization quite like Cayden Lindstrom.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, the physical power-forward exploded up the rankings this season with a strong start to his WHL season. Although it was eventually cut short due to a broken hand and a subsequent back injury, many believe Lindstrom could be one of the Canadiens’ top targets leading up to the 2024 NHL Draft.

Montreal Hockey Now recently sat down with the 18-year-old forward to get his feel on how his game is evolving, his current health status and what he thinks about the possibility of playing for the Montreal Canadiens down the line.

Tailor-Made

In his exit interview last week, general manager Kent Hughes admitted that he felt his club currently lacked the scoring punch and physicality necessary to compete with the best teams in the NHL.

Enter Cayden Lindstrom.

“My best qualities are my goal-scoring ability, physical play and high competitive level,” said Lindstrom when asked to describe his best attributes. “I like to drive to the net, and use my size to cause havoc in the danger areas.”

Having put up  27 goals and 19 assists for 46 points in just 32 games this season, it would be an understatement to call Lindstrom a goal-scorer, as he used his unique combination of size and speed to get to open areas with ease to unleash his heavy shot at will.

“I think my shooting can improve even more,” admitted Lindstrom when talking about what he could change in his game. “I think working on changing my angles and faking out goalies is a part of my game that I can get better at to score even more and open up space for my teammates.”

But, Lindstrom believes he’s capable of showing much more than just goal-scoring, citing that he wants to show he can be much more than a regular crash-and-bang power-forward; but rather a physical forward that can combine scoring and skill for a more complete game.

“I want to show more of my playmaking. During this season Andrew (Basha) was the playmaker and I was the finisher and it worked really well. But I think I can also be effective at setting up plays as well, and that’s what I want to show more of,” said Lindstrom regarding his evolving game. “I’d like to start slowing down my game, entering the zone and getting some good looks in to make plays, rather than just trying to skate as fast as I can up the ice.”

It’s clear to anyone who has watched Lindstrom that he represents one of the most unique profiles in the 2024 NHL Draft, and, if he can continue to improve, could become a very dangerous top-six player in the NHL.

But, will teams balk at the small sample size of games this season?

Stronger, Better, Faster

Lindstrom’s season was cut short by two independent injuries, one to his right hand and another to his back; limiting the 18-year-old to just 32 games this season. He was able to return for the WHL playoffs, where Medicine Hat was eliminated in five games by the Red Deer Rebels, but then ultimately refused an invite to represent Canada and at the IIHF U-18 World Championships to recover from his injuries.

Shutting down his season created some concern across the hockey world, as the U-18s are an important stage for top prospects to cement their status right before the NHL Draft.

But, for Lindstrom’s camp, it was about making the right decision long-term.

“I feel good right now,” said Lindstrom about his health. “I was just at the gym and doing physio. I’m training hard and preparing for the NHL combine and next season. I wasn’t playing for three months, so I’m just trying to get back to that level of fitness and strength before we kick it up a notch this summer.”

When asked about Lindstrom’s health, agent Daren Hermiston confirmed that the back injury suffered by the young power-forward was a very common injury for sports athletes and didn’t require surgery. He confirmed that the decision to shut down Lindstrom’s season was purely from a precautionary standpoint.

With Lindstrom a lock to go within the first handful of selections in the 2024 NHL Draft, it can be argued that the benefit of improving his draft stock was heavily outweighed by the risk of aggravating an injury.

In fact, one could argue that it could play in Montreal’s favour, as Lindstrom could ultimately still be on the board at fifth overall, while other clubs look to stock up on the plethora of available defencemen instead.

A Clear Target for the Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have the 5th-best odds at the NHL Draft Lottery at the moment, and, notwithstanding picking 1st overall for the second time in three drafts, he could be a very realistic target for the club.

When asked how he felt about the possibility of being selected by Montreal at the 2024 NHL Draft, Lindstrom didn’t hesitate for a second.

“I love it,” said Lindstrom with a big grin. “I want to play in an environment like that. The pressure, the excitement and all that- it’s something I would definitely see myself succeeding in and it would be an honour to be drafted by them.”

When pressed about the unique aspects of the market, like the passionate fan base or the heavy attention from media outlets, Lindstrom seemed at ease with the idea.

For Lindstrom, the pressure is seemingly fuel for his game; and making the right play, not necessarily the biggest play, is what will help him win over a rabid market like Montreal.

“When the game is on the line and you need a big goal, I want to be on the ice to help make it happen,” said Lindstrom regarding the pressure of winning in a passionate market. “And if I can’t be the one to score, I want to contribute to that victory in any other way I can. With a big hit, a timely block or an unselfish pass. You make the little plays that lead to the big plays.”

Being able to play in a market like Montreal is a unique quality amongst youngsters and something that Kent Hughes and his team value greatly.

Wait And See

It’s now just a matter of time to see how the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery plays out and what the board looks like when the Canadiens step up to the podium on June 28.

It has been previously reported that Lindstrom has met with Montreal Canadiens scouts throughout the season, which isn’t all that surprising, given their organizational needs and the profile that Lindstrom has.

One thing is for sure: Outside of a lottery win, if Cayden Lindstrom is still on the board at that time when Montreal selects on Draft Day, he’ll likely be right up there on their list of prime targets.

 

For more NHL betting lines and futures, head over to FanDuel

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john harmsworth

The info on the back injury is what I was wanting to hear. Lots of talk about Hughes trading a pick in a similar move3 to the Romanov-Dach scenario, If Lindstrom fits Hughes’ criteria character and brains-wise, he’s too good a fit physically trade away. Scout the draft landscape and snag him! He’s my preferred 1st pick Another big dude with some wheels and attitude to go with skill.

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Tyrone

I would imagine all the rumours about another Dach/Newhook like trade would involve the WPG 1st we have, and not our own pick.

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Dana

That would depend on what the package coming back. The idea that has been circulating is the Winnipeg pick plus other assets in a Dach/ Newhook type deal, but Hughes is open for business to transform the team into a contender so he likely would listen to offers and use all available tools.

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Tyrone

I doubt we’d expend assets like our top pick plus more for a guy just a few years older than Lindstrom though. It makes more sense to grab him (or someone similar) “for free” with our own pick, then get another player with the WPG + extra. We got Newhook for the 31st + a 2nd last year. In all likelihood the Jets pick will be higher than 31st and if the rumours are true about packaging one of our D with that pick, they are worth a lot more than a 2nd rounder, so it stands to reason that we “should” be able to get a player better than Newhook this time around, which is pretty great imo.

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Dana

I agree that is the most likely path based on Hughes history and the rumors but Hughes, a master negotiator by trade, has been full of surprises since taking the helm. Who expected the Dach deal? It was out of the blue. Or even Newhook? Or Reinbacher at 5. He keeps it interesting.

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Tyrone

5!!! attempts to write this…

But is “keeping it interesting” a quality we want from a management team? After the huge splash HuGo made in Montreal by going against the grain and taking Slafkovsky, and then swinging the Dach trade simultaneously, that becomes a tough act to follow. Then last year they go off the board again with what everyone is thinking by selecting Reinbacher, while also swinging the deal for Newhook. I don’t believe this is the case, but it would be a shame if they feel like they have to keep trying to one-up themselves each year, by doing bigger and wilder things. Sometimes the most obvious choice actually is the best one. My concern would be that they select another Dman with their pick this year and then make a trade for a forward using one of the existing guys we have. In order to get the supreme quality I’d want in a forward coming back, I’m worried that our trading partner would want Guhle, Hutson, Xhekaj or Mailloux. To me, it would be a lot easier to just pick the best forward at #5, and then package one of the D I didn’t mention with the WPG pick, to get another forward. If we need to add a Laval prospect like Farrell, Kidney, Davidson and/or a lower pick to ensure we get a top forward back, then so be it. The irony of it all is that we are all expecting it to happen, yet do we REALLY NEED to do it? We already have Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Dach, Newhook, Roy as a top 6. Assuming the first 3 guys continue on the growth curve they’re already on, and the last 3 guys can get on a similar trajectory, we might not even need 2 more forwards. Say we get them anyway, then 2 of the 8 forwards are now going to be on the 3rd line. Throw in Beck and now we have a top 9 core. But, a top 9 usually doesn’t consist of all offensive stars Usually it’s 6 offensive stars, 3 dual threat 200ft players, and then a 4th line of in your face grinders and bangers with some PK skills. It’ll be interesting to see which guys get pushed down to the 3rd line, and are they going to be the right type of player for that job. There’s definitely lots to look forward to and see how all this plays out.

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morrisk

They didn’t go “off the board” to select Rein at #5. He would have been taken in the top 10, and Ariz would have taken him at #6 if the Habs did not take him.

Enough with your love for Michkov. He won’t be in the NHL until 26-27. And he’s a prima-donna.

And nobody else picked 6-10 in that draft has amounted to anything thus far…Rein is the only one to have played in the minors, so he is at least that much ahead of the others…

Geez!

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Tyrone

They went “off the board” in selecting a defenceman when we really needed a forward. Plus, Axel Sandin-Pellika was the top rated Dman in the draft so they even went a little off the board by not choosing him over Reinbacher. But the unexpected move was selecting yet another Dman when we already have too many and we have such a potential need for scoring up front instead.

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Dave

Unless they believe he’s the next best available player and it was the defencemen they chose.

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Jimmy

If Canadian stay at 5 overall he will be pick at 3.

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morrisk

“one could argue that it could play in Montreal’s favour, as Lindstrom could ultimately still be on the board at fifth overall, while other clubs look to stock up on the plethora of available defencemen instead.”

Well that’s what it comes down to.

But before any of this happens, we have to see the final lottery order…its all meaningless until we see who picks where. BUT, if the Habs pick at #5, there’s a 50-50 shot he’d be available. It is possible 2 dmen are taken from 2-4, and if so that would mean Cayden is a lock for the Habs at #5.

IF…

Last edited 11 days ago by morrisk
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Greg

Sounds like a kid with a good head on his shoulders. Barring winning the 1st overall pick, Lindstrom would be a nice consolation prize. I can’t help but worry that once again, Hughes will take a defenceman rather than a forward. If that 6’7″ guy is still available, it’d be very hard not to select him, defenceman or not. I’m also still on the fence on his draft day trades. Dach seems like he’s made of glass, and we have a very tiny sample size from both. I did like Newhook’s game after he returned from injury, but again, small sample size. Hopefully, we will see a lot more from both players next season, see what we really have in this pair.

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Steve

The Dach trade was a steal!!!! Romanov a 3rd and 4th for Dach!! I loved Romanov but he would not stand out by any means over the guys Habs have on the left side now. Dach will help anchor the 2nd line for the next 10 yrs or worse case scenario dominate at the 3C

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Habs77

How will he dominate from the press box? He’s has never played a full season, his brother is the same way.

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Dave

Better training ? Good luck for once??

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