The Florida Panthers selected forward Owen Lindmark in the fifth round (137th overall) at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft at Rogers Place in Vancouver, one pick after they selected Henrik Rybinski.
In the season prior to being chosen by the Cats, Lindmark played in 56 games for the United States National Development Program team and scored 11 goals and 14 assists. He also represented his country at the U18 IIHF World Championship in Sweden and scored one goal in seven games and won a bronze medal.
After being drafted, the hard-working two-way center had a solid season as a freshman with the University of Wisconsin. He finished his first NCAA campaign with six goals and 11 assists to go along with a +6 rating and 8 PIM in 36 games played. He won 148 of the 286 faceoffs (51.7%) he took over the course of the season. Lindmark’s two shorthanded goals were tops on the Badgers. He had 4 goals and 6 assists in his first 14 games before tailing off offensively.
Lindmark showed some offensive improvement as a sophomore, again finishing with 17 points (4G/13A), but in less games (27) during the COVID-19 truncated schedule. He scored shorthanded twice to again lead the team in this department. He registered 35 shots on goal, blocked 35 shots and finished the year with a +3 rating and 4 PIM.
Owen Lindmark (@FlaPanthes) got his first two goals of the season in yesterday’s game for @BadgerMHockey!
Lindmark is up to 6 points in 7 games on the season. His @EliteProspects page: https://t.co/TCHludvKtf#FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/YX8mSDV2dA
— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) November 29, 2020
The 20-year-old center will return to Wisconsin for his junior season. Lindmark is a player who is likely to advance to the professional ranks due to his strong work ethic and his ability to win faceoffs. Whether that advancement leads him to the NHL level is another story altogether. He’ll need to improve his skating and focus on being a defensive specialist as it doesn’t look like the offensive abilities are there for him to be anything other than a bottom-six player at the top level.
Underground poll o’ the day
Will Lindmark earn an ELC with the Panthers?
| Yes | 23 |
| No | 18 |