Through the first four games of the 2025-26 season, his first season playing with Michigan State in the NCAA, Lindstrom has one goal, one assist, two PIMs and 10 shots on goal. His first collegiate goal came off a stretch pass that Lindstrom took in stride before beating the Boston University goalie five-hole. Lindstrom added an assist and four shots in that game. Coming off a back injury that kept him out of the Western Hockey League regular season last year, Lindstrom is finding his game in the NCAA. Mick S

Lindstrom announced he is leaving the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers and has committed to Michigan State University for the 2025-26 season. He missed the entire 2024-25 regular season due to back surgery and only rejoined the Tigers in the WHL championship series against the Spokane Chiefs, where he produced four points (two goals and two assists) in seven games. He was then able to play in the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Quebec. Lindstrom will look to stay healthy and to make an impact as a freshman at Michigan State and build up his fantasy value to where it was before his lengthy absence due to injury.

Lindstrom, selected fourth overall by the Jackets in the 2024 NHL Draft, is reportedly set to transfer from the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers to Michigan State University. The move preserves his NCAA eligibility, as he has not signed an entry-level contract. NCAA hockey’s shorter schedule is expected to grant Lindstrom additional time for skill development and physical recovery. At MSU, he will join a program renowned for its experienced coaching staff, advanced facilities, and competitive environment aimed at refining player potential. An official announcement is anticipated in July.

Lindstrom was selected 4th overall by the Blue Jackets.

Cayden Lindstrom has the makeup of the kind of top-six centre that NHL teams covet, and for good reason. Lindstrom is a towering 6’4 pivot with high-end athletic tools and defensive upside, but his game is in no way defined by these attributes. Lindstrom’s skills are best showcased on the offensive side of the puck and in the attacking zone. Lindstrom is highly effective in transition, where he can build a head of steam to create entries and quality rush chances.

In-zone is where Lindstrom’s tools shine, getting off the boards into the middle of the ice frequently, using excellent body positioning and puck protection, winning pucks back deep in-zone, and showing small-area puckhandling and awareness that would be the envy of many smaller players. He also has a hard shot but makes a living playing the game “the right way”, getting to the dirty areas of the ice, playing through checks, utilizing smart off-puck routes, taking high-quality shots, setting up his teammates, and finishing his checks hard. While Lindstrom has a high floor as a physical, two-way centre with a strong possession game, it is easy to envision him using his offensive pop to turn into a high-end top-six forward, especially if he can stay healthy. (April Rankings: #3)

November 2023: Lindstrom has been showing up all over the place on different draft boards, and for good reason: it’s quite hard to get a grasp of his true upside.

Physically gifted and willing to use it, Lindstrom is incredibly disruptive along the boards, competes hard on every puck, and does a lot of little things right. From his tendency to cut to the middle off the rush, to his hard back-checks, to his ability to take each puck in stride without needing to slow down, many details of his game scream ”NHL. On top of that, his skating is polished, and he has no problem carrying his large frame on 200 feet, with or without the puck. Early on, we probably would have ranked his playmaking as a below-average tool. However, we’ve seen incremental growth in his ability to draw pressure in and dish the puck through it, to go along with the refined goal-scoring and stickhandling mechanics. His ranking at 8th overall on our early board is a bet on that incremental growth continuing, and if it does, Lindstrom could develop into something special. (November rankings: 8th overall)