Theo Lindstein

[seattleblue]

There is good news and that is that we have a real defenseman here who is already looking fantastic going from SHL to AHL and that's Theo Lindstein. His defensive game is soothing and he can absolutely move the puck on the PP. He and Pekarcik had a cycle going during one PP that was high end puck control along the boards (@ John Cocktoast: Pekarick looked great last night). He is already their #1 defenseman. Seems to start every period, and he looks smooth with Hunter Skinner (by the way, who I am coming to appreciate more with every game. Skinner in the AHL looks better than Mailloux in the NHL but of course these are different levels.)

Lindstein can skate effortlessly in all eight points of direction and has an inner calm that another recent defender who was here with the Blues a long time also has. This is a roster player out of camp next season and I expect him to get some callup duty depending on the injury situation with the Blues.

Very very important to be developing a home grown top 4 defenseman on the left side. Dvorsky, Lindstein, Snuggy are top six/top four caliber injections to the roster. When that happens to your team you almost always pop. The logic of the optimism is there.

[John Cocktoastin]

Another great update, Seattle. The Pekarcik info is always appreciated..

Lindstein seems like a guy you don't worry about. Steady, dependable.

Question...how are his outlets? That is what I remember reading about him. Not only a incredibly skilled guy, but does his business and then drives the play out of the D-zone. Checking to see if you're seeing that in his play.

Awesome stuff. Thank you, Seattle.

[seattleblue]

Loving his first pass. Crisp, lengthy, on the tape

Can't do it without a high IQ & poise & physical skillset

[Tony Palazzolo]

This is great. We are finally getting the results from those 3 first rounders. It seems like a million years ago when Doug threw in the towel and picked up those extra first rounders.

[bluetunehead]

Great to hear. We really need him to hit as a Top 4 guy.

[John Cocktoastin]

Thank you, Seattle.

[seattleblue]

You guys are welcome, I bit the bullet and got flohockey so I have all the replays available. I watched Springfield yesterday and most of Carbo's first period, now watching the rest. He just scored his second goal of the first period, it's 2-0. Both of his goals were opportunities that came to him that he immediately outskilled everyone with and scored. But, he might have scored eight last night, I have only seen the first two, at least there is a toggle for the video player to jump past whistles ...

[SameOldBlues]

Im not as high on him as most, mainly cause he has no physicality to his game, and he’s light, altho Im sure he’ll gain more muscle, and his offensive potential seems secondary at best. I know he’s got high hockey IQ and all, but he leaves me wanting more, at least to date. What would be awesome tho is if he continues to improve, gains more muscle, and could play his off side to be a potential replacement for Faulk. Then id instantly fall in love with him and adorn his jersey with a big fat sparkly rainbow patch on it.

[seattleblue]

He uses his skating and feet and IQ for positioning, however he bodies up on the PK like you would expect a defenseman to do, it was actually something I noticed in his game that he's not being outmuscled. Instead, he looks normal. He is not unphysical in a way that is a detriment, that is not a very legit critique IMO. Having watched him closely against men last season and against men this season he looks in no way overmatched by physicality

[TheHighHat]

Thank you for the update SB.

I understand that is always difficult to compare young players with current or past NHL'ers, but if you get a moment please state some players that Lindstein reminds you of regarding size and style of play under these 3 outcomes.
Best case upside
Worst case scenario
Most likely outcome

Are these comparisons close or are they way off?
Best: A mix of the overall steadiness/excellence of Gustav Forsling with the PP acumen of Mike Matheson
Worst: A mix of Ryan Lindgren & Nate Schmidt
Likely: Nick Leddy in his prime

[seattleblue]

Thank you for the update SB.

I understand that is always difficult to compare young players with current or past NHL'ers, but if you get a moment please state some players that Lindstein reminds you of regarding size and style of play under these 3 outcomes.
Best case upside
Worst case scenario
Most likely outcome

Are these comparisons close or are they way off?
Best: A mix of the overall steadiness/excellence of Gustav Forsling with the PP acumen of Mike Matheson
Worst: A mix of Ryan Lindgren & Nate Schmidt
Likely: Nick Leddy in his prime

Let me mull on the comps you've offered. I don't feel confident in stating how Mike Matheson plays the PP for example. I know about last year's Forsling comp from his coach.

The comp I have always liked with him is Jonas Brodin and I still see it. What's giving me the good feeling about him are some small little moments that demonstrate key abilities. The very specific stick work keeping the puck in play during offensive zone time and making tight skilled plays against good defenders along the wall. He is stepping up at the blue line to disrupt a rush, these little plays here and there which indicate engagement and discernment about when to make the move. He isn't a purely "safe" player he will take a calculated risk to step up and disrupt a rush which springs from his confidence. When the puck is in tight spaces defensively and multiple players are trying to find it to make a play, you can count on him to be highly competitive at getting to the answer/soiution before his opponent. Then he can make a quick little play and now his team has possession. He is just part of the substance and guts of puck possession and puck control I would say.

[sneptsmoustache]

Thanks for the updated Seattle and nice to hear a bit of good news. We need some of these guys to "hit", so to speak, if this team is going to drive future success, and we all know not all of these top prospects are going to do so. So it's great to hear that Lindstein is remaining on that track.

With Pekarcik, my sense is that he's making an overall impression this year that's somewhat above expectations...do you think that's fair?

[seattleblue]

Thanks for the updated Seattle and nice to hear a bit of good news. We need some of these guys to "hit", so to speak, if this team is going to drive future success, and we all know not all of these top prospects are going to do so. So it's great to hear that Lindstein is remaining on that track.

With Pekarcik, my sense is that he's making an overall impression this year that's somewhat above expectations...do you think that's fair?

I am really pleased with Pekarcik's relative speed and aggressiveness at this level. In Moncton he was a beast along the wall and he is a positive force along the boards at this level too. I was worried about his center of gravity in his skating, and I've seen him get dumped a few times but it's not any kind of systematic issue it doesn't look like. He is a harrier and he especially knows how to turn something up the other way in the neutral zone to get chances started, that is what I see him contributing a lot of. He's good at complimenting highly skilled centers and he definitely has NHL speed.

He is somewhat above my expectations, that is a good way to put it.

[TheHighHat]

Thank you for the update SB.

I understand that is always difficult to compare young players with current or past NHL'ers, but if you get a moment please state some players that Lindstein reminds you of regarding size and style of play under these 3 outcomes.
Best case upside
Worst case scenario
Most likely outcome

Are these comparisons close or are they way off?
Best: A mix of the overall steadiness/excellence of Gustav Forsling with the PP acumen of Mike Matheson
Worst: A mix of Ryan Lindgren & Nate Schmidt
Likely: Nick Leddy in his prime

Let me mull on the comps you've offered. I don't feel confident in stating how Mike Matheson plays the PP for example. I know about last year's Forsling comp from his coach.

The comp I have always liked with him is Jonas Brodin and I still see it. What's giving me the good feeling about him are some small little moments that demonstrate key abilities. The very specific stick work keeping the puck in play during offensive zone time and making tight skilled plays against good defenders along the wall. He is stepping up at the blue line to disrupt a rush, these little plays here and there which indicate engagement and discernment about when to make the move. He isn't a purely "safe" player he will take a calculated risk to step up and disrupt a rush which springs from his confidence. When the puck is in tight spaces defensively and multiple players are trying to find it to make a play, you can count on him to be highly competitive at getting to the answer/soiution before his opponent. Then he can make a quick little play and now his team has possession. He is just part of the substance and guts of puck possession and puck control I would say.

Thank you again for the breakdown.

I stayed away from the Brodin comp because Jonas is a bit bigger and rarely gets PP time.
It seems that you believe at minimum Lindstein will be a 2nd unit PP guy with the upside to man the left point on the 1st unit.

[seattleblue]

Thank you for the update SB.

I understand that is always difficult to compare young players with current or past NHL'ers, but if you get a moment please state some players that Lindstein reminds you of regarding size and style of play under these 3 outcomes.
Best case upside
Worst case scenario
Most likely outcome

Are these comparisons close or are they way off?
Best: A mix of the overall steadiness/excellence of Gustav Forsling with the PP acumen of Mike Matheson
Worst: A mix of Ryan Lindgren & Nate Schmidt
Likely: Nick Leddy in his prime

Let me mull on the comps you've offered. I don't feel confident in stating how Mike Matheson plays the PP for example. I know about last year's Forsling comp from his coach.

The comp I have always liked with him is Jonas Brodin and I still see it. What's giving me the good feeling about him are some small little moments that demonstrate key abilities. The very specific stick work keeping the puck in play during offensive zone time and making tight skilled plays against good defenders along the wall. He is stepping up at the blue line to disrupt a rush, these little plays here and there which indicate engagement and discernment about when to make the move. He isn't a purely "safe" player he will take a calculated risk to step up and disrupt a rush which springs from his confidence. When the puck is in tight spaces defensively and multiple players are trying to find it to make a play, you can count on him to be highly competitive at getting to the answer/soiution before his opponent. Then he can make a quick little play and now his team has possession. He is just part of the substance and guts of puck possession and puck control I would say.

Thank you again for the breakdown.

I stayed away from the Brodin comp because Jonas is a bit bigger and rarely gets PP time.
It seems that you believe at minimum Lindstein will be a 2nd unit PP guy with the upside to man the left point on the 1st unit.

He strikes me as a player who would get third or fourth most PP minutes on an NHL team, but that's more because he's more competent than elite and a good defensive team is likely to have a couple better PP options. Broberg is a more dynamic offensive player inherently than is Lindstein. Lindstein would be a linchpin of the PK. That said he is a room to grow player, that is likely why the Forsling comp. He was used two WJCs ago as the more specialized PP weapon but then last WJC he graduated to the more all around role.

I think he will use sound, unexciting, calm defense, crisp first pass as his base of initial contribution and you will see moments of the intelligence contributing to offense. What I am hoping his career does is build that solid defensive base first and after two years or so of being a full timer, he slowly begins to grow his point totals. Overall I feel better about this player on the Blues than I ever felt about Faulk being on the Blues with his playing profile.

[The Average Gatsby]

Do you think he could play nhl games this year? I think Tucker played the right side a few times with Suter last year so I’m wondering if he could knock Mailloux out of the lineup.