The Blue Jackets are wisely playing the long game with Cayden Lindstrom, but when should we be concerned?

The Columbus Blue Jackets nabbed the guy they wanted with the fourth overall selection at the 2024 NHL Draft, taking big center Cayden Lindstrom from the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. The risk was high with this player. We all knew that. But, in spite of his back injury last season, we expected to see him on the ice this fall. That has not happened yet.

The Jackets are playing the long game here while he recovers, which is smart. It's a marathon with a top prospect, not a sprint. But, at what point do we have to be concerned about this situation? Lindstrom hasn't played a hockey game since December 16th, 2023. Putting this into deep perspective: Jarmo Kekalainen was still the GM of the Blue Jackets at that time, and he would remain in that role for another two months.

On that night, 9 days before last Christmas, Lindstrom posted 2 assists for the Tigers; bringing his points total to 46 (27 goals) in just 32 WHL games. Those are impressive numbers for a draft eligible player, and the Blue Jackets' scouting staff clearly felt like they'd seen enough to tab him as a must-have prospect ahead of the 2024 Draft.

From a sheer skills perspective, it's easy to see why they were so high on him. I was convinced as well. Lindstrom truly has it all. One of the draft's best skaters and shooters, he plays the game with a physically hard, competitive edge; all packed into a 6'4", 215 pound frame. Unfortunately, it's that physical edge that seems to have slowed his development. At least for the time being.

We need to start being concerned with Lindstrom's development.

At this moment, even if the back full heals and he gets back into game action soon, it's hard not to be worried about his long-term development. Lindstrom has missed nearly a full year of hockey in his 18 year old season, which often critical in a young player's career.

Obviously, he wasn't going to play for the Blue Jackets this season. But, he should have been back in the WHL by now, playing for one of the best teams in all of junior hockey and being a dominant two-way presence as their top line center.

Instead, he continues to work out off the ice in Columbus, with no real news on an impending return. All of this after the team assured everyone that his situation was well on the mend, and that he would be back in action this fall. In fact, prior to the draft, talk was that Lindstrom would be back on the ice in mid-July.

Clearly, this disc herniation was a much bigger issue than we were all led to believe. This is bad news because the Blue Jackets needed to use this fourth overall pick effectively. That can certainly still be the case, but the fact that Lindstrom isn't even on the ice yet is very alarming.

Much like Pierre-Luc Dubois, Lindstrom's career may forever be judged based on the player(s) picked just after him in the draft order. With that in mind, early doubters are being proved correct. Hopefully he can get back at it soon, and show the hockey world what he's capable of doing.