Is Lindholm that much better than Nino Niederreiter #5 pick 2010 or Michael Granlund #9 pick 2010?
These guys both got drafted the year before Baertschi.
If the Flames want another talented guy to go along with Baertschi maybe they look at the St.L #1 pick as a a key piece in getting one of these guys.
Pretty sure the Flames #6 pick this year would get one of these guys 3 years along the path.
Granlund is a particularly realistic comparison to Lindholm as he was playing with men in Finland as a 17 year old.... dominated the men's league for 2 years after that and then was not an impact player the NHL in 2013. He sat the last 3 games of the year when Minnesota was clawing its way into the last playoff spot.
Is Lindholm as good as Granlund.... He is playing in the swe men's league next year.... then he will need a year to adapt.
Tim Erixon (and david Runblad) were in the Swedish Men's league for 3 years each before coming over to the NHL/AHL.
The SEL is not adequate prep for the NHL. Lindholm will likely be 3 years away from becoming a NHL regular.
It took the Sedin's 5 years to hit their stride in the NHL after 3 years in the SEL.
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