51黑料

The Blues think Theo Lindstein is ready for the next step. He believes so, too.

Lindstein, one of the club鈥檚 first-round picks in 2023, will be making the jump to North America in the fall after spending his career with Brynas in Sweden, first in their youth program and then with their professional team. He is expected to play with AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts) in the fall.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be fun,鈥� Lindstein said. 鈥淎 new experience to come over here, it鈥檚 going to be fun to take my next step in my career. I鈥檓 probably expecting a higher level of course. It鈥檚 smaller ice here, too, so it鈥檚 going to go a little bit faster. I鈥檓 just looking forward to come here to North America.鈥�

The Blues selected Lindstein with the 29th pick in the 2023 draft, the same draft in which they selected Dalibor Dvorsky at No. 10 and Otto Stenberg at No. 25. Because Dvorsky and Stenberg each tasted the AHL this season, the Blues did not bring them to development camp this summer.

Lindstein has gone deep into the playoffs each of the past two seasons in Sweden.

In 2023-24, his Brynas squad won the championship, earning a promotion from the second-tier Allsvenskan to the top-tier SHL. In 2024-25, they advanced to the final before falling in six games to Lulea. Lindstein played in all 17 playoffs games this spring.

鈥淗e鈥檚 played in some big games, and this is the next step in his career to come over and see how he can handle the North American ice,鈥� Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said. 鈥淗e was good at the World Juniors once again. Again, I hate to keep saying this but just the strength. He鈥檚 playing against men now, especially over here, it鈥檚 a little bit tougher of a league in the AHL. I would say it鈥檚 a little more physical, so that鈥檚 the next step in his growth and seeing how he can move the puck with these guys.鈥�

Lindstein鈥檚 resume has grown since the Blues took him in 2023. He鈥檚 made the Swedish World Juniors team twice. In 2024, he was named to the WJC All-Star team as he led all defensemen in the tournament with six assists and eight points. In his return to the team last season, he wore an 鈥淎鈥� as an alternate captain.

Plus, those pair of deep playoff runs for his club team.

鈥淚 feel stronger and better, and I鈥檝e been doing a lot these last two years,鈥� Lindstein said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been playing relegation games and played in the second league, go up to the SHL again, and then play a long way in the playoffs last year. It鈥檚 been a couple good years. I鈥檓 just going to take that with me and bring it over here and be myself and play my game.鈥�

Lindstein鈥檚 game is reliable. He鈥檚 patient and calm on breakouts, he鈥檚 poised with the puck in transition and he uses his stick instead of his physicality to defend in his own zone. In Sweden, he didn鈥檛 flash top-end offensive skill, with four goals and five assists in 44 games in the SHL in 2024-25.

Taylor said the Blues hope Lindstein鈥檚 skills translate 鈥渞eally well鈥� to the smaller North American ice with less time to make decisions.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know until you get into it,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to give them a little bit of runway, too. Can鈥檛 expect them to come over in the first 10-15 games that they鈥檙e going to have production and look like they belong. There鈥檚 going to be some growth with him. Obviously, he has a lot of really good things and habits. We鈥檙e hoping that will help and instill lots of confidence in him.鈥�

Lindstein has had temporary tastes of the North American style, as the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa, the U.S. Hockey Summer Showcase and the Hlinka Gretzky tournaments were all on the smaller surface.

鈥淚t goes fast, but hockey is a fast sport,鈥� Lindstein said. 鈥淵ou need to be on your toes all the time. I just like it.鈥�

In Springfield, Lindstein will join a blue line that should feature two other Swedes in Samuel Johannesson and Leo Loof, plus prospects Michael Buchinger and Quinton Burns. Corey Schueneman and Hunter Skinner figure to round out the group.