Canadiens place Gustav Lindstrom on waivers
The Montreal Canadiens placed defenseman Gustav Lindstrom on waivers on Tuesday.
Lindstrom participated in 14 games for the Canadiens this season, contributing three goals and one assist for a total of four points. However, he has been absent from the team’s lineup since December 9. Over the span of five NHL seasons, Lindstrom has achieved five goals and 24 assists, accumulating 29 points in 142 career games. Originally selected as a second-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Lindstrom initially played junior hockey for Almtuna IS in Sweden’s HockeyEttan Div-1.
Les Canadiens ont placé le défenseur Gustav Lindström au ballottage.
The Canadiens have placed defenseman Gustav Lindström on waivers.
— Canadiens MontrĂ©al (@CanadiensMTL) January 9, 2024
Following a season with Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League, Lindstrom joined the Red Wings’ organization in the 2019-20 season. During this period, he played 45 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, registering five assists, and an additional 16 games with the Red Wings, contributing one assist.
In August 2023, Lindstrom was traded to the Canadiens, along with a fourth-round pick in 2025, in exchange for defenseman Jeff Petry. Subsequently, he was assigned to the AHL’s Laval Rocket, where he played four games before being called up to the main roster following an injury to David Savard.
As of January 9, the Canadiens hold a record of 17-17-5 with 39 points in 39 games, placing them sixth in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. Their goal differential stands at a challenging minus-26, primarily due to a weakened defensive lineup and struggles in scoring among the forward corps.
Captain Nick Suzuki leads the team in scoring with 34 points (12 goals and 22 assists), while defenseman Mike Matheson contributes 27 points from the blue line. However, approaching the midway point of the season, only four players on the team have amassed more than 20 points, namely Suzuki, Matheson, Cole Caufield, and Sean Monahan.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens are scheduled to play against the Philadelphia Flyers on the road on Wednesday, followed by a home game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. They conclude the week by hosting the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.
