Canadiens Place Former 2nd Round Pick on Waivers

The Montréal Canadiens will be facing a bit of a roster crunch with the impending return of Rafael Harvey-Pinard, and with that, defenseman Gustav Lindstrom is the odd man out, heading to the waiver wire.

Placed on NHL waivers today: Gustav Lindstrom (MTL).

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 9, 2024

Per Canadiens beat writer Marc Antoine Godin, the move makes sense, in order to make room for two others on the roster ahead of Lindstrom on the pecking order. 

En plaçant le défenseur Gustav Lindström au ballottage, le Canadien prépare non seulement le retour au jeu de Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, mais semble vouloir aussi retenir les services d'Emil Heineman à Montréal, du moins à court terme.

— Marc Antoine Godin (@MAGodin) January 9, 2024

Translation:  By placing Lindström on waivers, the Canadiens are not only preparing for the return to play of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, but also seem to want to retain the services of forward Emil Heineman in Montreal, at least in the short term. He’s only played three games at the NHL level thus far, and was just recalled late last week. He'd recorded six points in 10 games at Laval.

With the emergence of Jayden Struble and the recent return of Jordan Harris, Lindstrom has been pushed way down the blueline depth chart in Montreal, and has spent the last month in the press box, making him expendable. 

The 25-year-old Lindstrom was a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL entry draft. He spent parts of his first four seasons in the NHL in the Motor City before coming to the Canadiens this season. In 14 games, he has three goals and four points with a plus-minus rating of zero. 

If he clears waivers, he will be assigned back to the Laval Rocket.

Lindstrom has five goals and 29 points in 142 career games. 

Photo: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports