[Signing] Leafs to sign C Par Lindholm

[Brad Marchand]

From Elliotte Friedman's 31 thoughts:

 

Quote

11. Another Canadian team that may dip into European free agency: Vancouver. The Canucks are looking at Par Lindholm, a 26-year-old Swedish centre. Several NHL clubs were interested, but believe Vancouver has a good shot at him.

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-decisions-31-thoughts/

 

 

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=13091

[HerrDrFunk]

[Dazzle]

Free player, if he can make it through our depth. Seems like a big game player, based on playoff numbers. I've no doubt that they've seen him play a handful of times.

[RetroCanuck]

Good centre depth that would come cheap. Nothing wrong with that.

 

Would allow for Pettersson and Gaudette to play in Utica if needed.

[Alflives]

Okay if it's only a one year deal.  Still would rather see our young guys play.  Why not let Gaunce, or Cassels, or Granlund play center next season?  Let our young guys, who are going to actually be part of our next group get the experience. 

[-AJ-]

I'd be okay to try him out, but scoring that well at 26 is far less impressive than doing it at a young age like Pettersson. We saw the same sort of thing with Holm. He could be great for Utica perhaps.

[Provost]

Free options without long term commitments are good.

 

We need more centers in the organization.  If one out of ten of these low risk moves work, we are still ahead.

 

Holm turned into Leipsic and he is still an asset with upside.

[Ossi Vaananen]

Would likely start in Utica. I'm always down for more depth. 

[Guest]

38 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Okay if it's only a one year deal.  Still would rather see our young guys play.  Why not let Gaunce, or Cassels, or Granlund play center next season?  Let our young guys, who are going to actually be part of our next group get the experience. 

Because Gaunce and Cassels couldn't pot 10 goals if they centered Tarasenko and Kucherov?

[Alflives]

Just now, Captain Azzy said:

Because Gaunce and Cassels couldn't pot 10 goals if they centered Tarasenko and Kucherov?

Next year, and the one after that too, should be about developing our next core (young group) and not about hanging on to - maybe - a playoff spot.  

[D-Money]

36 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Okay if it's only a one year deal.  Still would rather see our young guys play.  Why not let Gaunce, or Cassels, or Granlund play center next season?  Let our young guys, who are going to actually be part of our next group get the experience. 

But are they?

 

Gaunce is already 24, and hasn't proven to be anything more than a 4th liner. Cassels has struggled to produce at the AHL level. Granlund just turned 25, and although he has shown flashes, but the GM has publicly stated he needs to take it up a notch to be considered a player they want to keep.

 

This Lindholm guy seems like a late bloomer, who really took off statistically in the last couple of seasons. If the Canucks think he's a better option than Gaunce or Granlund, why not go with him instead? Why cling to guys who are simply not difference-makers, solely because you were the team that drafted them? Why not give someone else (who you think may be better) a chance to be a difference maker?

[Guest]

Just now, Alflives said:

Next year, and the one after that too, should be about developing our next core (young group) and not about hanging on to - maybe - a playoff spot.  

So why give a roster spot to either Gaunce or Cassels, neither of whom have proven to be anything more than borderline NHL 4th liners and in reality are simply scoring depth at AHL level?

 

This guy could translate to 40pts each year for 5/6 years - I'd rather give him a go than kids who aren't going to help move this team forward.

[Roberts]

at some point the Canucks are going to have to put Swedish flag patches on their jerseys with all these Swedish players

[Alflives]

Just now, Captain Azzy said:

So why give a roster spot to either Gaunce or Cassels, neither of whom have proven to be anything more than borderline NHL 4th liners and in reality are simply scoring depth at AHL level?

 

This guy could translate to 40pts each year for 5/6 years - I'd rather give him a go than kids who aren't going to help move this team forward.

Gaunce earned his spot already.  Plus, why give a roster spot to a 26 year old guy from Europe, who might only be a tiny bit better than Cassels?

[oldnews]

The team needs to add a veteran center imo - he could be a good, affordable option.

 

 

 

[oldnews]

 

 

[Fanuck]

4 minutes ago, oldnews said:

 

 

In the NHL that'd be a 1 game suspension if Par's uniform was black/silver/white or black/yellow/white and a 10 game + if it was blue/green/white. 

[oldnews]

3 minutes ago, Fanuck said:

In the NHL that'd be a 1 game suspension if Par's uniform was black/silver/white or black/yellow/white and a 10 game + if it was blue/green/white. 

I don't know about that, but looks like he has a 'hard to play against' edge, something our forward group could use.

Doesn't have to be dirty - just physical.  Doesn't have to be big - just engaged.

 

If he can win draws and play at both ends of the ice he could be a good fit with a generally younger group.

[Ghostsof1915]

17 minutes ago, oldnews said:

The team needs to add a veteran center imo - he could be a good, affordable option.

 

 

 

If he can do moves like that in the NHL I'm sold.

[Guest]

31 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Gaunce earned his spot already.  Plus, why give a roster spot to a 26 year old guy from Europe, who might only be a tiny bit better than Cassels?

Gaunce has earned nothing - other than the 13th forward spot.

 

As for Cassels, he's never going to play an NHL game. He's an AHL lifer. So any guy who can score at nearly a PPG in Sweden is clearly going to have a better shot than him.