Tough decision to be made concerning this fan favorite
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O. EngMarch 2, 2022 (4:16 PM)
After last night's loss against the Edmonton Oilers, many little details surrounding the future of the supposed core of this team are being questioned. While GM Chuck Fletcher, Danny Brière and the Flyers' staff are busy analyzing every single player on this roster, so are other teams and journalists.
This morning, Anthony SanFilippo of the Philly sports blog Crossing Broad had a very interesting take on fan favorite Oskar Lindblom.
"I've resisted writing this for some time now, but I think it's becoming evident that Oskar Lindblom will never be the player he was just before he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in December, 2019," he wrote.
This season, Lindblom has 8 goals and 11 assists in 52 games. Drafted in the fifth round in 2024, it has been a hard journey for the Swede.
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"He's probably best suited for fourth line duty with some extra penalty killing time, and can move up the lineup, as needed to fill in, and won't embarrass you."
SanFilippo likens him to a player who plays in the bottom-six who can move up and down your lineup should injuries arise.
«The Flyers will be reluctant, considering what he's been through and the inspiration he has been to many. And it's hard to knock the Flyers for giving him the contract they did � as that was equal parts reward for beating cancer as it was for belief in his hockey ability[..]But if the Flyers want to be what they claim they want to be next season, then I'm not sure Lindblom can be part of it[...]Like I said, fourth line, maybe.»
Losing Lindblom however won't be a huge loss for the team, with a likely top-5 draft pick, a free agent pool to dip into and a plethora of young talent to draw some, giving more opportunities. Wade Allison, Tanner Laczynski, Isaac Ratcliffe and Morgan Frost are all players for the future.
If anything, Oskar Lindblom is still young and has time to improve. The question is not about the player he is right now but whether or not we've seen the best of his capabilities.
His contract comes to an end next year with a $3 million AAV, on any team, a fourth liner making that much money will find it difficult to compete. The website EliteProspects projects his season totals will be 12 goals and 17 assists in an 81-game span.
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