The Medicine Hat Tigers advanced all the way to the Memorial Cup Final this season, ultimately losing to the London Knights. With the CHL season now wrapped up, Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom confirmed that he'll be heading to the NCAA next season. This makes a lot of sense for him and the CBJ.
Taken by the Jackets fourth overall at last summer's draft, Lindstrom is the top prospect in the system. Unfortunately, he missed nearly the entire year due to a nagging back injury; only returning to the Tigers for a few games of their WHL Finals series; and the Memorial Cup tournament.
He got into four WHL playoff games, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists as the Tigers beat the Spokane Chiefs 4 games to 1. At the Memorial Cup, he played 3 games, but did not get onto the scoresheet. His ice time was very restricted as he worked his way back from back surgery. It was even more restricted after he suffered a charley horse injury in game 3 of the WHL Finals.
Now, he'll get a full summer to continue rehabbing and getting into game shape. This should hopefully get him back to 100%, and on track to being the top prospect he truly is. I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes this year, but I do know that the plan couldn't have been limiting him to just 7 total games. The good news is, he got on the ice; which quells a lot of my own concerns.
Michigan State makes a lot of sense.
Cayden announced last week that he'll head to the Michigan State Spartans this fall, and from every angle you look; this makes a lot of sense.
As a long-time supporter of junior hockey, even I can admit that some guys are just too good to play in those leagues. Lindstrom, at 6'4" and 215 pounds, is truly a man amongst boys at the CHL level. Next year, he will get to play games against older players - young men - at an overall higher level of competition.
And, maybe more importantly, it's a shorter season. The NCAA primarily schedules games only on weekends (you know, school and all); which means that he won't be facing the physical rigors of a 72+ game schedule in his first full year coming off of a major injury. Less games means more practice, which is exactly what his recovery plan should entail.
Cayden benefits from the recent rule changes that allows former CHL players to play in the NCAA. The Blue Jackets will benefit here as well. Another year in Medicine Hat wasn't going to help further his development. He would have just obliterated the competition next season. He also wouldn't be eligible for the AHL and an assignment to the Cleveland Monsters next year.
Instead, he'll head to one of the top programs in college hockey; where he can continue to develop without being a target for the opposition 3-4 times a week. Fighting isn't allowed in the NCAA, which I believe to be a good thing here as well. That is part of Cayden's game, and I don't want to see him dropping the gloves any time in the near future. Staying healthy is the key, and fighting will not help in that regard.
The focus should be getting back to game speed, recovering his timing, and being a dominant two-way center for the Spartans. He will be able to do all of that without having the distraction of defending himself.
The ceiling is really high.
It may take him a little time to adjust to the NCAA level, especially after missing so much hockey over the last two years. But, he projects as a high-end two-way center in the NHL. He has the size, speed, and physicality that teams dream about. If he reaches his top end, he and Adam Fantilli will give the Blue Jackets one of the most effective top-two line center duos in the entire league.
I've said it before, and I will say it again: a healthy Cayden Lindstrom probably goes in the top-two of last summer's draft. This is a special player, and I really hope the patience shown by the Blue Jackets as he recovered from his injury is rewarded in a big way.