Montreal Canadiens: Targeting Cayden Lindstrom in the 2024 Draft

2023-11-26 17:30:06

A quarter of the season in Montreal has passed and it is time to be realistic: the Canadian will not be part of the playoffs.

If yesterday’s match is indicative of anything, I wonder what further demonstration you would need. The team’s record (9-10-2) is not disastrous for a rebuilding club, but over the next few weeks, months, we can expect several defeats.

And that’s good. CH would like to draft high once more this year (for the last time?). I don’t think we’re as bad as the Sharks or the Blackhawks, so don’t expect – barring a miracle – to draft in the top-3. The top-5 is more realistic.

What you need to know is that good players also find themselves outside the top-3. Sure, they’re not as high-profile as Macklin Celebrini, Cole Eiserman or Ivan Demidov, but talents like Cayden Lindstrom exist.

It is also the 17-year-old player from British Columbia that Brian Wilde would target if he were at the head of Montreal management. According to him, Lindstrom is the ideal choice and fills a need.

In 2021, I targeted Logan Stankoven as Habs first pick. It did not happen.

In 2022, I targeted Wright early for the Habs. It did not happen.

In 2023, I targeted early for the Habs Will Smith. It did not happen.

In 2024, I am targeting Cayden Lindstrom. Perfect choice/need.

— Brian Wilde (@BWildeMTL) November 26, 2023

Let’s get to know Lindstrom, who is not related to Gustav.

He is approximately 6 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 205 pounds, has excellent skating and phenomenal vision for the game. As evidenced by the sequence above, his hands are also very deft.

If the season ended today, and the logic of the lottery is respected, CH would be drafted in ninth place. According to predictions, the club would therefore draft Adam Jiricek and as we can see in the screenshot below, Cayden Lindstrom is expected to be released two ranks later.

(Credit: Tankhaton)

Kent Hughes and his group would therefore have the opportunity to select him. However, let’s not get carried away too quickly…

With 32 points in 24 games in the WHL, Lindstrom has impressed greatly, and some even think he might be chosen much sooner. Cam Robinson, the content director of the site EliteProspects, ranks him second overall in the draft, no less. According to Robinson, the young teenager is outperforming players such as Eiserman, a future 50-goal scorer, and Demidov, who is in the same conversation as Matvei Michkov.

If Lindstrom continues to impress like this, he’ll go out in the top-5, at least. And I’m not very sure that the Habs will end up there in the end.

One thing is certain, the club has a pressing need for a striker. Marc Dumont and Marco D’Amico discussed it yesterday: Montreal does not need another defender, and with all the offensive talent that the 2024 draft promises, now is the time to act.

A lot of

– Wow.

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WATCH THIS RIGHT NOW. GARNACHO WITH AN ALL-TIME HIT. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/OlDudyIq0k

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) November 26, 2023

– Oui.

Is this bad ????

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 26, 2023

– No CH goalkeeper in the top-20 worst goalkeepers this season.

– NHL transaction.

The Devils trade Tyce Thompson to the Islanders for Arnaud Durandeau. @TVASports

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) November 26, 2023

– An appointment not to be missed.

????TOMORROW 8:30 a.m. ????

We will have the chance to host the Gray Cup in our studios!!! ????

Tune in to our airwaves as Le Club du matin receives some members of the Alouettes in the studio ???? pic.twitter.com/jq9FxNIGk2

— BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) November 26, 2023

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