With their second pick in the fifth round, the Florida Panthers selected yet another forward, making it their third of the day.
Picking right after the 136th pick, the Florid Panthers used their 137th overall pick on center Owen Lindmark from Naperville (IL), USA.
6’0″, 192 lbs and right-handed, Lindmark played for both the USNTDP Juniors (USHL) and the U.S. National U18 Team (USDP) during the 2018-19 season.
In 24 games with the Juniors, Lindmark recorded 5G, 9A, for 14 points. With the U18s, he put up 11G, 14A, and 25 points in 56 games.
Internationally with America, Lindmark received a bronze medal at the 2018 U18 WJC. Through 7 games, Lindmark registered one goal. In addition, he finished the tournament with the highest faceoff percentage (68.09%).
Previously (2017-18), Lindmark guided the U.S. to a gold-medal finish at the U17 WHC, posting three points (2G & 1A) in six games.
Lindmark is a player who has potential in his finishing abilities but isn’t consistent enough to show it in larger sample sizes. His defense is iffy and could certainly use some polishing.
A University of Wisconsin (NCAA) commit, Lindmark will join a strong development program with hopes of developing a more well-rounded game.
The pick itself has question marks written all over it, considering Lindmark is quite raw. I don’t see Lindmark playing in the NHL any time soon (or possibly at all), but he could turn out to be a decent AHL player that could receive a call-up or two one day.
I’m not personally high on this pick and think there were other forwards (and even defensemen) that could’ve been selected with this pick, but I’m hoping Lindmark turns out to be everything that I wouldn’t expect him to be.
At worst, this pick is labeled a strike, with a small possibility of working out in the long run. Not the player I would’ve selected at No. 137.