Let's talk about Carl Lindbom's opening stint with the Vegas Golden Knights for a second. The 22-year-old netminder has made an incredible living during his hockey career, ranging from Djugardens IF to the Henderson Silver Knights. Just look at his campaign with the Silver Knights, when he posted a GAA of 2.65 and a save percentage of .912.
So, how did the Stockholm native do in his first NHL go-round? Well, the stats don't exactly jump out at you. He has a GAA of 3.14 and a save percentage of .870. He got his first career win on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, defeating the "Baby Sharks," 4-3. Here, he stopped 18 of 21 shots and kept Macklin Celebrini off the goal sheet.
That deserves some pats on the back.
The young netminder will certainly be satisfied by getting the proverbial monkey off his back with the win. That's good for various reasons, ranging from building confidence at the NHL level to carrying over momentum when you eventually get sent back to Henderson.
Speaking of which, Carter Hart returning to the NHL looms large. December 1st is coming up quickly, meaning that the goaltender is expected to be activated by the Golden Knights. That could potentially mean that Lindbom's tenure with Vegas is winding down (at least, the first one).
So, let's look at the rookie who's as spry as a spring chicken. What made him special with the Golden Knights? What can he improve with Vegas so he can be a netminding fixture? Time to dive into some Swedish meatballs and listen to some ABBA!
Looking at Carl Lindbom's first stint with the Vegas Golden Knights
There have been some highlights in Lindbom's first stint with the Golden Knights. One can point to his first career start against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a perfect example, where he stopped 26 of 28 shots. He also had a good start against the Minnesota Wild, stopping 25 of 28 shots and getting the loser point.
How did he do it? Quick angles and movements, along with cerebral play. That covered net space quickly, making life tough for opposing attackers.
However, there have been some duds. The second start against the Lightning was disastrous, where he stopped 21 of 26 shots. He committed too much to certain movements, leaving himself open to goal-scorers like Nikita Kucherov.
Carl Lindbom had some moments where he overcommitted to certain opportunities. He would try to make a save by committing to a spot, only to get stymied by opposing attackers. That has left some fans frustrated with his aggressive goaltending style.
Combined with being 6'1", which is smaller for a goaltender, that makes for a combination that's less than desirable. It's part of why some Golden Knights fans were frustrated with him, despite the Swedish netminder being a rookie.
However, he did show his trademarks that made him a successful prospect. That included quick cuts and sharp angles. When Lindbom sticks to his strengths, he's one of the toughest goaltenders to beat. That was apparent in his first career start against the Lightning.
If Lindbom can commit to his abilities and cut back on making overly aggressive cuts, he'll have staying power with the Golden Knights. That should make life easier for Kelly McCrimmon regarding the goaltending situation. Fans know he doesn't mind a cheaper option when it's convenient and that's no different for the 22-year-old.