Cayden Lindstrom, Blue Jackets' No. 4 pick last June, makes triumphant return

New York Times

10-05-2025

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ever since Cayden Lindstrom had back surgery in November, the Columbus Blue Jackets' seemed resigned to waiting until next season to see their 2024 No. 4 pick back on the ice. Every precaution was taken, and patience ruled the day.
But Lindstrom's diligent work during rehab and the Medicine Hat Tigers' long, impressive run through the Western Hockey League playoffs conspired to make the unlikely possible on Friday.
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After more than 13 months away from competitive hockey, Lindstrom played for Medicine Hat in Game 1 of the WHL Championship, assisting on the Tigers' first goal — only 54 seconds into the game — and playing a regular shift in a 4-1 win over Spokane.
Lindstrom finished with a plus-1 rating, took a penalty, and won 5 of 10 face-offs while centering Medicine Hat's second line.
The Blue Jackets had two scouts on hand in Co-op Place, and several more scouts and executives watching via internet back in Columbus and points beyond.
'Our doctor cleared him a while back, but he wanted him to have a couple of weeks, at least, of contact in practice,' Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said. 'We had a conference call on Monday and another one on Wednesday, and the doctor fully released him.
'If he feels good, he said. He sees no reason why he shouldn't be able to play, and the kid wants to play.'
Waddell admits to being initially uneasy about Lindstrom's return. He had told himself and others that Lindstrom most likely wasn't going to play this year, and that was the organization's mindset. But the more he listened to doctors and to Lindstrom, he started to come around.
The original prognosis when Lindstrom went under the knife on Nov. 20 was that he could return to play in five months. It's been nearly six, Waddell noted.
'The kid is eager to get back,' Waddell said. 'It's been a long year, and when you're a hockey player and you don't get to play hockey all year … that's tough.
'He's worked his ass off to get to this point. At the end of the day, it's his decision. But like I said to him on the phone Wednesday, 'We're going to support you, Cayden. I just want you to be honest with the team, with the trainers and with us. If you feel anything at all, or if you don't feel like you're ready for a game, you have to be honest with us.''
WHO ELSE BUT ANDREW BASHA?!
The @NHLFlames prospect opens the scoring at the #WHLChampionship in his FIRST shift back from injury!
📺🇨🇦 | @TSN_Sports📺🇺🇸| @victoryplustv#FeedingtheFuture | #Flames | @tigershockey pic.twitter.com/sLvFrK09u5
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 10, 2025
If Medicine Hat, the second-best club in the WHL during the regular season, didn't go on a post-season burner, Lindstrom's return wouldn't be possible. The Tigers have won 11 straight playoff games, including second- and third-round four-game sweeps over Prince Albert and Lethbridge to reach the final.
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'I haven't played in a while, so there's going to be some bumps and a lot of rust, probably,' Lindstrom told reporters in Medicine Hat. 'The speed might not be there, but, honestly, I'm not too worried about that. I know what I have to do. My game will come as the series moves along.'
Lindstrom was a constant presence in Nationwide Arena this season, with several veteran players taking him under their wings as he faced the day-to-day grind of rehabbing with no return in sight. He'd skate on his own during the day, then watch from the press box along with the club's injured players or healthy scratches.
On Nov. 20, he had back surgery in Los Angeles.
'You kind of go through the highs and lows. I did, at least,' Lindstrom said. 'I would just go week by week. Some days I'd feel not very good, other days I'd feel great. I tried to stay positive … self-talk, stay positive.
'The guys there were all so supportive in wanting to help me. They did a great job with me there. They all really cared, and that was the big thing.'
On Friday, Lindstrom centered a line with wingers Andrew Basha and Hunter St. Martin. On the first shift of the game, Lindstrom went in hard on the forecheck, gathered a loose puck and quickly spun and fed St. Martin in the right circle. He found Basha coming through the left circle for the game's first goal.
It was a triumphant night all around in Medicine Hat. Basha, who'd been out since having surgery in December, made his return to the ice on Friday, too. It was Lindstrom's first game since a WHL playoff game on April 5, 2024.
'I thought it was real exciting to have them score on their first shift,' coach Willie Desjardins told reporters in Medicine Hat. 'That was about as good as you could start, for sure. It's going to be exciting having them in the lineup.'
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Patience will still be the Blue Jackets' guiding principle with Lindstrom.
Waddell noted that Lindstrom, even if he's feeling completely healthy, may not play every game of the series. There are two back-to-backs in the best-of-seven showdown: Game 3 and 4 are set for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Spokane, Wash., while Game 6 and 7, if necessary, are set for May 18-19 in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
The Memorial Cup runs May 22 to June 1 in Rimouski, Quebec. Waddell said he'd travel to Rimouski to watch Lindstrom in person if Medicine Hat qualifies.
Either way, Lindstrom will head into the off-season knowing where he stands with his back. If everything goes swimmingly, it would be a big boost to him and the Blue Jackets' future.
The Athletic reported last month that Lindstrom had committed to play next season at Michigan State University — per the NCAA rule change, players may now make the leap from juniors to college — but neither Lindstrom nor his agent, Daren Hermiston, have made a public pronouncement of that.
The Blue Jackets' depth chart at center is as strong now as its every been. Veteran Sean Monahan, coming off a point-a-game season, and 20-year-old Adam Fantilli, who had 31 goals this season, are locks on the top two lines. Cole Sillinger has settled into the third-line role.
Lindstrom, a combative two-way center, projects as a top-six impact center when he's NHL-ready. Nobody can say when that will be, of course. But Friday's return makes it seem less far away.