Being stuck in neutral is arguably one of the worst things that can happen to a prospect post-draft. The ever-growing hockey talent pool and the yearly influx of newer and younger talents mean that they have a very short window to distinguish themselves from the up and coming. If a prospect isn’t going anywhere, it costs almost nothing to find a younger and potentially better player.
Linus Lindstrom, today’s subject, could be an unfortunate example of that. After breaking onto the Swedish pro scene at 18, one of the rare players to earn a full-time SHL job as a teenager, he hasn’t really moved past that level.