Hampus Lindholm: The Next Big Thing
By Gregory Katz
Hampus Lindholm is a 21-year-old Swedish defenceman, currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks. Since beginning his NHL career in 2013, Lindholm has accumulated 67 points and a +48 rating in 176 games. He also has 12 career playoff points in 27 games. The more important stat, though, is that at such a young age, Lindholm is trusted to play serious minutes for the Ducks.
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In his rookie season – at 19 years of age, Lindholm played an average of 19:26 per game. Last season, Lindholm played 21:46 (on average) per game, and this season, his average is closer to 24 minutes per game. This article will discuss how Hampus Lindholm will be a key piece in the Ducks’ success, and how he will soon be recognized as a top-tier NHL defenceman.
Lindholm was drafted sixth overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, he played one season in the AHL for the Ducks’ affiliate, which was the Norfolk Admirals at the time. Lindholm has worked his way through the Ducks roster in the first three years of his career, as he is now playing top pairing minutes and getting power-play time as well. This is particularly impressive, since the Ducks were considered a Stanley Cup contender in each of the past three seasons.
Oct 29, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm shows off his puck handling ability in a game vs. the St. Louis Blues.
The Ducks management fully entrusted Hampus Lindholm at such a young age, which is a true testament to his ability as a responsible, skilled defenceman. The most surprising thing about his play is how mobile and confident he is with the puck. Lindholm’s play is comparable to that of Arizona Coyotes defenceman, and fellow Swede, Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
The beginning of this season has been a little tougher than the past two for Lindholm; he now finds himself playing an extremely important role for the struggling Ducks. Though his team is off to a 2-7-2 start this season, Lindholm continues to impress many around the league. The Ducks have scored only 14 goals in 11 games thus far this season, which is obviously completely unexpected of the former NHL power house team. In addition, the Ducks have conceded 29 goals this season, and have an overall differential of -15. (nhl.com/standings).
This doesn’t bode well for the young Swede statistically, though his numbers are not as bad as one may think. Considering Lindholm plays close to 24 minutes per game, his -6 rating definitely isn’t amazing, but it could be much worse. The Ducks’ struggles surprise and baffle every NHL fan, as they were expected to be a Stanley Cup contender in the 2015-16 season. That said, there is still lots of time for the Ducks to turn this season around.
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The future on the blueline is bright for the Ducks, as Lindholm leads the charge of young defencemen. Four of the six defencemen currently occupying spots in the top-six are Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, Simon Despres and Cam Fowler. These defencemen, along with young goaltender Frederik Andersen are sure to solidify the back-end for the Ducks for years to come. The question mark remains with the offensive side of the ice. Can the Ducks score enough goals to consider themselves a contender?
September 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm (47) moves the puck up ice against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
One thing that is certain, is that Hampus Lindholm is a flourishing young star in the league, and one that will have a bigger impact as time goes by and as he grows accustomed to life in the big leagues. It is said that defencemen take longer to develop than forwards, and if Lindholm is still developing as an NHL defenceman, he will be something special very soon.
The Ducks’ concerns this season are extensive, and with reason, as they sit in 29th place in the standings. One thing that Ducks management doesn’t have to be concerned with, though, is their young defence core, led by Hampus Lindholm.