Blackhawks could shock everyone by selecting Cayden Lindstrom at No. 2 overall
Photo credit: Mayors Manor
GM Kyle Davidson hasn't been specific on what player the Chicago Blackhawks will select 2nd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
With
Macklin Celebrini being the consensus 1st overall pick, after San Jose is finished, the Blackhawks have a plethora of great talent to choose from. While there are many great defenseman at the top of the draft, this doesn't necessarily fit with what the Hawks need.
The forward core for the Blackhawks needs more addition, as compared to the defensive depth, the team could add a top talent with a pick from the 2024 draft.
Lindstrom has been projected as a top-5 pick and wouldn't slide to 18th should the Blackhawks miss the chance of selecting him. It may seem unreasonable to pass up
Ivan Demidov or Artyom Levshunov for Lindstrom, but he could be a force to deal with when he fully develops and is NHL-ready.
Due to an injury he only played 32 games this season, which could cause hesitation for many NHL teams. But he is already working on recovery and his on-ice work speaks for itself: Lindstrom's totals this season in 32 games were 46 points( 27 G, 19 A).
The 6'4" center has speed and size many teams covet, and according to Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News, he is projected to be a top pick in the draft.
Lindstrom's size and speed allow him to cut through defenses, and let him keep his pace at a goal per game during the season. Lindstrom himself thinks the best part of his game is his speed:
"is my speed. I like using my speed. I love going fast. I love protecting the puck and getting off the wall and charging the net in the paint."
Lindstrom's deadly in the offensive zone, with his hands being used down low on the twig, and his capabilities lend well to him being the perfect center to line up behind
Connor Bedard in the Blackhawks system.
Giving the Hawks a great 1-2 punch down the middle, this could ease up pressure on players like
Lukas Reichel and Oliver Moore in the future as well.
And the cherry on top of all this is, he's creative with the puck and not afraid of going on defense.
Don't count on Lindstrom being passed on early in the 1st round of the draft.
Previously on HawksInsider
POLL |
JUIN 11 | 158 ANSWERS Blackhawks could shock everyone by selecting Cayden Lindstrom at No. 2 overall Should the Blackhawks take Cayden Lindstrom 2nd overall? |
Yes | 69 | 43.7 % |
No | 89 | 56.3 % |
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