Player Preview: Hampus Lindholm

Apr 9, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm (47) celebrates with right wing Teemu Selanne (8) in the second period against the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the 2013-2014 season, there weren’t too many expectations surrounding Hampus Lindholm, the young blue-liner from Sweden. Drafted with the 6th pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, Lindholm played very well for the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in Norfolk, but he suffered a concussion which cost him two months of the season. Also, despite his tremendous natural talent, Lindholm was only 19 years old at the end of the lockout season. One of the worst things to do to a prospect is to rush him along his development. This applied especially to Lindholm, who had to deal with playing against bigger players in the North American game, yet adjust to the smaller rink size here as well.

However, a strong training camp from the Swede helped him earn a spot on the Ducks’ opening day roster. Although he was scratched for the opening two games of the season, Lindholm played 78 of the 82 regular season contests and became a mainstay on the second pairing with Francois Beauchemin. Lindholm’s play continued to grow as the season progressed, and he arguably became one of the Ducks’ best defensemen and one of their most important players.

Lindholm put up six goals this past season, tying him with Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen for the team lead among blue-liners. His 30 points this season were also second among Ducks’ defenseman after Fowler. However, his +/- sat at a staggering +29, which was 2nd on the team to Corey Perry. It was also the 12th highest figure in the NHL and led all rookie blue-liners. And unlike many young players, Lindholm was counted on to play in just about any situation, averaging over 19 minutes per game of ice time.

Lindholm was also depended upon fairly heavily in the postseason, averaging just over 18 minutes per game of ice time. However, he suffered a neck injury in Game 4 of the Dallas series, causing him to miss two games. He had a minimal effect on the stat sheet, only posting two points (both assists). Lindholm’s rookie year was a major success for the Ducks, but his postseason left a bit to be desired.

However, Lindholm is still young and both he and his game are still growing. He quickly became one of the Ducks’ third or best player on the blue-line as a rookie, and the team will be counting on growth from both him and Fowler to anchor the blue-line both now and into the future. Here are the areas of the game Lindholm excels in and the areas he must work harder on.