Cayden Lindstrom: A Fascinating Prospect
Cayden Lindstrom is a projected first-round pick in this year's 2024 NHL Draft, currently playing as a high octane center for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. Lindstrom is unique, because he brings a toolsy offensive game, combined with old-school physical habits, and a steady two-way presence all over the ice. This is a prospect I've only discovered recently, but as I've continued to watch film on him, his game sticks out right away. It's very hard to find centers that play like smaller forwards with the puck at a rangy height, but Lindstrom does it effortlessly, standing at an intriguing 6'4", 216 lbs according to Elite Prospects. Only in recent years has Lindstrom continued to adjust to playing center, but the feel at the position looks natural for him based on how he's played in Medicine Hat so far.
As I write this, he is also on pace for a whopping 92 points (54G, 38A) in 64 games this season, which is rare to produce at a rate so high as a draft-eligible prospect. It made me even more intrigued, since I've seen him in the lower 20s on some rankings, which surprised me to say the least.
One thing that stood out was the summer work he put in with skills coach, Sumeet Wareh , as shown on the YouTube video here. Sumeet does a great job outlining different ways they were looking to improve Cayden's game through attacking off the wall, and leveraging the high frequency areas up the middle inside the offensive zone.
The skills that Cayden brings are unique, because he's continued to link together his coordination with his size from his time in the CSSHL to his draft year in Medicine Hat right now. He's always had a physical, old-school, power forward presence, and this year he's been able to constantly blossom with his small forward style skillset.
Lindstrom's tenacity as a forechecker, pursuing pucks as F1, looking to initiate contact using his size/frame, and his ability to create retrievals makes him an intriguing power forward style player. As shown here, his tenacity comes largely around the net front as well. He does a tremendous job using his natural instincts to get to the net first, and be able to find windows of space using his quick hands, and his fluid off-puck routes. I'm always intrigued by players that bring small area finesse into their playmaking by incorporating off-puck routes that allow themselves (and teammates) to be put in better puck retrieval positions. There's a subtle art to it, because having the mind to find yourself moving into off-puck routes that are fluid and well-timed are based off instincts.
A player that brings a natural feel and confidence for the game with play more loose in their body, and won't be thinking too much about what is going to happen next, whether that be with or without the puck.
With Lindstrom, there's a natural belief in his ability that is unwavering on the ice, but the natural instincts he has are toolsy for both his offensive and defensive game.
In the clip above, a prime example of Lindstrom's off-puck timing -> his on-puck retrievals is evident. Notice how the fluidity of that first crossover route between him and the winger on the entry forces both D to collapse to stay middle strong in this scenario. Then, the puck juggles, forcing a 1v1 scenario in the corner. Lindstrom follows trailing behind D1, putting himself between checks and creating layers in the scenario without the puck. Lindstrom creates that first layer, supports his teammate low to create an odd-man, small area 2v1, and then a give-and-go sequence extends possession. Lindstrom continues his route behind the net, the puck gets worked to him low on the cycle, and Lindstrom extend possession by going low-high on the wall.
With better small area support from teammates, the play definitely could've been extended up high for Lindstrom at the tail end of the clip. A lot of Lindstrom's board play has improved from being a perimeter style player, to a player that can quickly link his hands to maintain possession of the puck in small area scenarios, and get off the wall with pace and purpose.
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With players that are able to find themselves creating good habitual off-puck routes, it doesn't always translate to on-puck success, but with Lindstrom, he is able to link together both. It's a rare occasion. Sometimes, players are able to have off-puck success and lack on-puck success, whereas others are the opposite. Lindstrom has a natural knack for putting himself in quality ice both with and without the puck, as shown above without the puck, but with it based on manipulative/deceptive factors.
For the rush variation clips, check out two clips between 1:00 and 1:13 in this video. The fascinating part of how he attacks defenders to manipulate space, is using different fakes and variations to create separation. In both these clips, he doesn't lose speed and maintains cruising speed with the puck, but he's also incorporating different styles to create space through the dot lane and up the middle. He leverages the defensemen, gets them to turn their feet and get off stride, and is able to purposefully attack with his attack route.
He's by far a top-5 prospect in this draft in my eyes, as the upside is massive. His style is so unique and rare to have at this age. Adding to that, Lindstrom still has yet to fully fill out his frame, and he could add more mass and power to his lower body over time as well.
Style Comparison(s): Quinton Byfield, Pierre-Luc Dubois
Draft Projection: Top-15 (Top-5 personally for me)
Future Upside: 1st line center/winger (Can play both)
Projected NHL Arrival: Unknown, could be a longer-term project
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