Medicine Hat Tigers star Cayden Lindstrom has emerged as one of the top 2024 NHL Draft prospects. In 2024 NHL Mock Drafts, he usually finds himself going within the top five. He certainly goes within the top 10 of those mocks. Lindstrom is going to be a sought-after player in a few weeks. And one of those interested teams is expected to be the Montreal Canadiens.
It certainly makes sense for Montreal to be interested. Lindstrom is a big and powerful center who uses his size to his advantage in all aspects of the game. He finishes his checks and turns himself into a gnarly net-front presence teams hate playing against. He would certainly be a fantastic fit for the Canadiens if they selected him.
Furthermore, Montreal holds the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. This is the second consecutive year that the Habs select fifth overall. And general manager Kent Hughes hasn't exactly made his preference for this upcoming draft a major secret.
“I think what I’ve said is all things equal, we would draft a forward, and I think that remains the case,” Hughes said a month ago, via The Athletic. “Having the opportunity to sit down with our scouts, which we’ll have an opportunity to do next week, will kind of solidify where they see the group of players that are available.”
Lindstrom is definitely a logical choice if Hughes wants him. However, there is an argument for Montreal to pass on the Medicine Hat Tigers star. And with this in mind, here is why the Canadiens should not select Cayden Lindstrom fifth overall at the 2024 NHL Draft.
Canadiens have other options available
One reason Montreal can pass on the Tigers star is the players that should be available fifth overall. If Hughes wants to take a center, Spokane Chiefs star Berkly Catton could be available. Catton is a dynamic offensive force who scored 120 points on a mediocre Chiefs team. Additionally, he is solid defensively, even if there is room for growth.
A surprise within the top five of the draft could land Montreal one of the truly elite prospects in the class. Russian prospect Ivan Demidov is expected to go within the top three of the draft. But if either the Chicago Blackhawks or Anaheim Ducks go in a different direction, Demidov could fall to the Canadiens.
Demidov is a skilled playmaking winger. His individual puck skills rival that of any forward in the class. The Russian winger had a dominant showing in the Russian junior league this year as a U19 player. He is also a determined forechecker who uses that ability to break games open instantly. In terms of talent, he is certainly one of the best prospects to come out of Russia in years.
All else equal, these two prospects would be better selections than Lindstrom. Both are more well-rounded prospects and could have higher ceilings. However, even if both Demidov and Catton are gone, there are some concerns regarding Lindstrom that Montreal must consider.
Cayden Lindstrom suffered a concerning injury
Lindstrom has seen his stock fall in recent weeks. And this is due to concerns over an injury he suffered during this season. The Tigers star had his season end due to a back and hand injury. His hand injury is considered relatively minor. That said, the back injury is certainly another matter.
Many believed Lindstrom's back injury was a muscle issue. However, The Athletic's Corey Pronman appeared on a recent episode of The Athletic Hockey Show and said the injury was different. Lindstrom missed significant time due to a herniated disc in his back.
Pronman did mention that he looked good at the NHL Draft Combine. But a herniated disk is a nasty injury to suffer early on in someone's career. And it's an injury that can certainly have long-term effects on a player's career.
Of course, injuries can happen at any time to any player. Risk of injury is inherent with any player selected by any team in any given year. However, that risk is higher in this case. He has a demonstrated history of injury already and that could lead to more issues down the line.
Lindstrom certainly has the talent to succeed in the NHL. And if the Canadiens pick him in the 2024 NHL Draft, it wouldn't be a bad selection for them. However, it carries a notable amount of risk comparable to the other potential options on the board. It's a risk the Canadiens should wish to avoid as they look to contend sooner rather than later.
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