Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee
I think the issue with Lindholm for me is, it is not abundantly clear yet how much Lindholm drives plays or how much he is just an incredible finisher / accessory from other players that drive plays. Like more specifically, were his good years just a result of Gaudreau and Tkachuk being amazing? Could you have put just about anybody on that line with similar results, like Backlund or Kadri? To what extent is Lindholm a star player if you're intending to pay him like one?
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That's a fair question to ask - but fans typically have such a narrow view of what makes someone a "play driver". Lindholm may defer to his teammates in transition, but it is his defensive play and attention to detail that allows his teammates the time and space to move the puck in a consistently positive direction. He may not be the one carrying the puck in most situations - but he is typically the key ingredient in allowing that breakout to occur in the first place. This is why the Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli experiment was for lack of a better term a failure. There was no distinct "puck carrier" on that line, and Sutter elected to move Huberdeau off of the line, and not Toffoli, which was a mistake to begin with.
Any linemate who has seen consistent time with Lindholm since his arrival here has experienced a career season. I don't think that's a coincidence. He is a player that makes those around him significantly better. He may have only had 64 points last season, but that was with middling second line minutes and linemates who had never consistently produced at high rates previously. People don't take that into account.
He's the type of player that will always get overlooked to some degree.
He is certainly a 9m dollar player as we sit here today - but unfortunately the GM's across the league have created/allowed a market to develop that allows these players to be grossly overpaid on long term deals with little to no thought or benefit being given to the organization on the back end. It's a tough spot to be in - especially for a club that has already dished out three "retirement" contracts in the past year and change.