Instant Analysis: Blue Jackets draft Cayden Lindstrom at No. 4 overall

With the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Blue Jackets have selected Medicine Hat (WHL) center Cayden Lindstrom.

Here’s what you need to know about the newest CBJ forward in the moments after his draft pick.

The Lindstrom File: A big center with scoring ability that checks a lot of boxes, Lindstrom is coming off a dominant but injury-shortened campaign with Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League, one of Canada’s top junior leagues. The 6-3, 213-pounder played in 32 regular-season games for the Tigers this past season, scoring nearly a goal a game with 19 assists and 46 points in 27 games to go with it. Lindstrom is ranked No. 3 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and No. 5 in our consensus poll. Lindstrom has eight two-goal games and 16 multi-point games this year and has also skated for Canada in international tournaments.

Direct analysis: This seemed like the most likely outcome for the Blue Jackets’ selection entering the draft, and so it happened. For a franchise that has traditionally sought top centers, the future certainly appears bright with Lindstrom set to team up with third overall pick Adam Fantilli in 2023. In a perfect world, the duo will be a one-two punch that will lead the way for Columbus in the middle for years to come. There were a lot of talented players on the table, but Lindstrom is a scout’s dream given his size, offensive skills and penchant for physical play. There is some risk – he missed most of the second half of last season due to injury – but he expects to be a game-changing player in the future.

What do the analysts say? Lindstrom’s ability to play quickly, score in multiple ways and bring a physical presence to the table has impressed thus far. Hadi Kalakeche of Dobber Prospects notes, “Simply put, Lindstrom is the biggest draw of this draft,” while Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News says, “There is no other player who brings the physicality that Lindstrom does to the draft if you also take into account the offensive ability that he has.” Chris Peters of FloHockey projects Lindstrom as a “top-tier winger or solid No. 2 center,” while Ferrari notes that he can score with a “dirty” shot or by using his ability in the front of the net in traffic. Ferrari also notes that Lindstrom plays with a mean streak, both with the puck and out, noting that he charges at defenders “downhill like an NFL running back looking for his opponent.”

Getting to know him: Lindstrom is a member of the Driftpile Cree Nation and is from small Chetwynd, British Columbia, a town of about 2,500 in the northeastern part of the province, about a 12-hour drive northeast of Vancouver. Lindstrom grew up as a football and baseball player and moved to Vancouver at the age of 14 to pursue his hockey dream. He worked with the Delta Hockey Academy program to improve his skills. That certainly paid off, as Lindstrom went from there to the WHL and has made multiple appearances for Team Canada in his age group. He’s quite an athlete, as he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds in practice last offseason, and he can juggle.

What’s next? Lindstrom will get a chance to see Columbus – and The 5th Line – when he attends the Blue Jackets’ annual development camp next week at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. From that point on, the path of development isn’t certain – that will be up to the player – but it’s largely believed that this year’s draft won’t feature as many NHL-ready players at the top. Lindstrom will have a chance to make an impact in camp, but it would also be fine for him to return to the Western Hockey League, where Blue Jackets talents Denton Mateychuk and Stanislav Svozil have shined in recent years.