Prospect Top 20: Defenseman Hampus Lindholm
By Sean
This is part 16 of my Prospect File series where I update you guys’ on Hockey’s Future’s Top 20 Anaheim Ducks prospects. This will be a daily series that will hopefully end before the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. I will also be doing a series on possible players the Ducks will take with their first round pick. Part 15 was on defenseman Sami Vatanen. So, next up in part 16 is #5 on HF’s Top 20, defenseman Hampus Lindholm.
via circlingthewagon.com
The Anaheim Ducks entered the 2012 NHL Entry Draft with the sixth overall pick, their highest pick in the draft since they selected Bobby Ryan second overall back in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. They used this sixth overall pick to select Swedish defenseman Hampus Lindholm. At the time, there were plenty of notable names for the Ducks to select, but they went with a guy who was a late bloomer and not exactly a notable name. He made the jump from Swedish second league directly to the AHL and the Norfolk Admirals. He faired pretty well in his first season in professional hockey. He missed time due to a concussion but in 44 games with the Admirals, Lindholm registered 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points with 16 PIM and a +6 rating. His composure and maturity is what everyone seems to notice about Lindholm. He isn’t flashy in anyway, but he just does everything so well that has allowed him to impress so many people. He was given a very long look in last years training camp and he certainly will get a very long look again this upcoming training camp. However, I personally think he will start next year with the Admirals and at some point during the season will be called up to the NHL.
via ducks.nhl.com
Age: 19
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 195 lbs.
Scouting Report:
"“The Ducks are certainly building a backbone for the future with the majority of their selections, and one of the members of that backbone is key defensive selection Hampus Lindholm. The big 6’2 Swede took his first jump into North American hockey this season and you could say it has been a relative success. While 11 points in 43 games does not seem like a giant statistical value, the 19-year-old was poised in his AHL rookie season. His plus-six rating is impressive for a first year professional, and Lindholm really looked much older than 19. He is poised with the puck, his breakouts are solid, and most importantly, he did not falter under the physical nature of North American hockey. Lindholm does not have the flashy offensive game, but his jump in the rankings is based a lot on the comfort level, maturity, and responsibility he has shown at every level he has competed in thus far. Moving forward, it is hard to believe he would not carry the same style into the NHL.”via HockeysFuture.com“A quite all-round defenseman with good size and mobility. Skates well and does not mind joining the rush. Hockey sense is impressive and so are his puck skills. Does not shy away from the rough stuff, although not an overly physical player. Used on the man advantage as well as in shorthanded situations. (EP 2012)”via EliteProspects.com"
Next up in the series will be center Peter Holland.
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