The Philadelphia Flyers have been hit with tragedy as forward Oskar Lindblom has been diagnosed with a serious illness and will miss the rest of the season while undergoing treatment. The team announced the news late Friday afternoon.
We’re all fighting with @oskarlindblom. pic.twitter.com/8ceHDn4OCk
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 13, 2019
Oskar Lindblom Out for Season
This is a significant blow to Philadelphia’s offence. Lindblom was tied for the team lead in goals with 11. He had 18 points in 30 games overall while averaging 17:37 of ice time total and over two minutes on the power play. Lindblom was also one of the best players in controlling the puck with a Corsi For of 54.7 percent.
The timing of this is particularly sad as 2019-20 was turning into the best of Lindblom’s career. His .60 points-per-game put him on pace to blow past last year’s career-high in points of 33. He has 30 goals and 57 points in 134 games. Those are fine numbers for a former 5th round pick. There is still plenty of time for the 23-year-old to resume his career but recovering from cancer of any sort takes a toll on one’s body.
What This Means for the Future
The Flyers will need to find a way to spread Lindblom’s minutes out. There is certainly room for veterans such as Jakub Voracek and James van Riemsdyk to see more ice. Don’t be surprised if some of Philadelphia’s other young players get more of an opportunity. There could be some shuffling as the coaching staff tries to overcome this tragic illness.
This sort of thing goes beyond a typical injury such as a shoulder or hamstring. Cancer is significantly more serious and there is no guess as to how the treatment will affect him moving forward. All fans should hope for the best for one of the Flyers’ most talented young skaters.
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