Flyers Fans Has Anyone Seen Oskar Lindblom?

After being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers back in 2014 in the 5^th round, most fans and league experts alike had already written Oskar Lindblom off as just another mid- to late-round draft pick who (at best) might be a career American Hockey League (AHL) player. A player who might be called up to the NHL for a short stint once in a blue moon when the Flyers find themselves desperate for help due to injuries. But that did not phase Lindblom in the slightest. 

Yes, it may have took this Swede a number of years to battle his way through the ranks of the team’s farm system, but he eventually made it to the summit and earned himself a spot on the Flyers’ roster full-time back in the 2018-2019 season. This is an opportunity that Oskar would prove to not squander. In fact, he skated away with it and built on that momentum. Coming into last season Lindblom, as well as the Flyers brass, expected big things from him. Again, he did not disappoint, leading the team in goals through just over a quarter of the season. Then the unexpected happened: Going to the team’s doctor for what he thought was just a minor injury sustained during the game became so much more. He didn’t realize that his life was about to change and that the resilience he so possessed was about to have to be called upon once again. He was in for the fight of/for his life. It was here that after the doctors ran some standard tests for his injury that they realized that he had a much bigger problem than the one he came to them for. One that a man in his early 20’s, who is in the best shape of his life and coming into the prime of his career would never even think he would hear. That bigger problem we of course know now was cancer. More specifically, Oskar was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. 

When the news was made public, fans were shocked and uncertain if Lindblom would ever return to the ice. A career so bright was now possibly just a flash in the pan. But “quit” must not translate well to the Swedish language because Lindblom, although obviously shaken, did not miss a stride; He seemingly took the news as just another obstacle he would have to overcome to get back to playing in the NHL. 

He did just that: Returning to the Flyers in the same season as he was first diagnosed- An amazing feat to say the least. It should go without saying that, at the start of this season, fans were elated to have him back in the lineup for the whole season. They were right to think that: Lindblom had a tremendous start- scoring a goal in back-to-back games against the Flyers’ most-hated rival: The Pittsburgh Penguins. Yes, Oskar looked to have picked up right where he left off before being diagnosed. In fact, he was skating harder and faster than ever. 

Since those first two games, however, Lindblom has had a sudden drought in goal production, totaling just two goals and two assists, for four points in 10 games played. These may not seem that bad considering, but when you take into consideration that the Flyers just re-signed Oskar to a new three-year, $9 million contract and have him currently playing on the second line. The expectations of him to produce are equivocal to the contract to which he was signed, especially since the man playing left wing behind him, on the third line, James van Riemsdyk (JVR), is currently among the league’s leaders in points with five goals and eight assists, for 13 points in 10 games played. 

Additionally, Travis Konecny (Lindblom’s line mate), was recently made a healthy scratch by coach Alain Vigneault because Travis was not currently meeting AV’s level of expectations. Even so, Konecny still has give goals and three assists for eight points in nine games played. 

I know Lindblom has faced more adversity in the last year than most of us will in a lifetime, and we’re all glad to see him return to the NHL as quickly as he did, but does this mean that he deserves special treatment?  At the end of the day, the NHL is still a business and if Oskar is going to have some setbacks or may still not be 100%, would it not then be wise to at least move him down in the lineup until he rebounds completely? Doing this would let a player like JVR- who has been playing like a man on fire lately- have the opportunity to see more ice time. This could also potentially offer some help to center Kevin Hayes, who has taken it upon himself to carry the team offensively since Sean Couturier went down with an injury. 

If the team were to decide to move Lindblom down in the lineup, there could be an opportunity for others who are producing more regularly. Doing this would see to it that Lindblom would then be lining up against less-talented opponents and could possibly give Oskar the spark needed to regain his confidence and get him back on the stat sheet consistently once again! For we are all rooting for Lindblom and want him to succeed at the highest level this is just one way that could help him persevere over his latest hindrance.  #OSKARSTRONG

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