Hockey Guy: Blues add supplemental scoring Live
Adding European forward Joakim Lindstrom as a free agent was a classic low-risk move for Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.
The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted him in the second record and saw great promise in him. During a two-season span for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch, he scored 47 goals in 99 games.
He never played his way off the fringe in the NHL, though. He peaked with nine goals and 11 assists in 44 games for the Phoenix Coyotes. His stint with the Colorado Avalanche was far less productive.
But he became a dominant scorer back in the Swedish Elite League. He 137 points in 129 games returning home to play.
He scored 18 points in 14 playoff games and won the Peter Forsberg Trophy as the league's best forward.
Lindstrom, 30. played well against a lot of NHL players at the World Championships -- scoring 11 points in nine games -- and earned multiple offers to return to North America.
The Blues got him at a minimal price, $700,000 on a one-year, one-way trial offer. Can Lindstrom play a more robust game during this NHL tour?
Or is he better off overseas, like former Blues draft picks Jori Lehtera?
Best case scenario: He works his way into a regular role on one of the top three Blues line, giving coach Ken Hitchcock some depth to play with and Armstrong some flexibility to make other moves.
Worst case scenario: Lindstrom fails to keep up with the NHL pace, falls into a fringe role and returns to Europe. As they say. nothing ventured, something gained.
It has to be better than adding another faded Dallas Star, right?
He could be a handy guy on shootouts, as this video demonstrates.
Here is some of the reaction in the Twitterverse:
The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted him in the second record and saw great promise in him. During a two-season span for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch, he scored 47 goals in 99 games.
He never played his way off the fringe in the NHL, though. He peaked with nine goals and 11 assists in 44 games for the Phoenix Coyotes. His stint with the Colorado Avalanche was far less productive.
But he became a dominant scorer back in the Swedish Elite League. He 137 points in 129 games returning home to play.
He scored 18 points in 14 playoff games and won the Peter Forsberg Trophy as the league's best forward.
Lindstrom, 30. played well against a lot of NHL players at the World Championships -- scoring 11 points in nine games -- and earned multiple offers to return to North America.
The Blues got him at a minimal price, $700,000 on a one-year, one-way trial offer. Can Lindstrom play a more robust game during this NHL tour?
Or is he better off overseas, like former Blues draft picks Jori Lehtera?
Best case scenario: He works his way into a regular role on one of the top three Blues line, giving coach Ken Hitchcock some depth to play with and Armstrong some flexibility to make other moves.
Worst case scenario: Lindstrom fails to keep up with the NHL pace, falls into a fringe role and returns to Europe. As they say. nothing ventured, something gained.
It has to be better than adding another faded Dallas Star, right?
He could be a handy guy on shootouts, as this video demonstrates.
Joakim Lindstrom slick shootout-winning goal 10/22/11
by NHL via YouTube
Here is some of the reaction in the Twitterverse:
Not only is new #stlblues forward Joakim Lindstrom a friend of @Steener20 he got high marks from SEL coaches and Blues scouts #bndblues
May 28, 2014
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
Potentially brilliant move by the #Blues . Joakim Lindstrom has worlds of talent but has never found a fit in the #NHL . Love the move!
May 28, 2014
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
Joakim Lindstrom had multiple #NHL offers before choosing St. Louis. Skilled player who played PP and put up numbers in Sweden #stlblues
May 28, 2014
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
KLART: Joakim Lindström lämnar Skellefteå. Han är klar för St. Louis Blues i NHL. #twittpuck expressen.se/sport/hockey/s… pic.twitter.com/zVRYWl88fp
May 28, 2014
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
