Cayden Lindstrom

Tommy Bleil from Halifax last year.

Uh, Cayden Lindstrom.

Yeah.

Hopefully-

Cayden Lindstrom, third season

...

I won't see Cayden Lindstrom.

Yeah, yeah.

Like losing Martone, you know, that hurts, but, you know, I think that you're, you're, you're hoping for guys to take big steps, right? You're hoping that Belches can step in and be an impact player in a similar way that some of these other first-year guys have been.

Not part of, part of Martone level impact, but can he put up 25, 30 points for you? Can Cayden Lindstrom, can Cayden Lindstrom now with a year under his belt, healthy-

Yeah

... can he become Cayden Lindstrom? Can he be that guy? Because the physical tools and the skill and, and the pedigree with that player right there, that's the guy.

You know, that's the guy.

If he can take a big, big leap forward and all of a sudden be like a star and a driver and get off the third line and get off the second power play unit and really force his hand, 'cause Nightingale, he'll give it to him if he earns it, right? Um, can Romani take a big step forward? Can Ryker Lee take another big step forward, right? Um, Eric Nielsen, they've got these guys, they played on a line together last year.

So- Um, I wanna talk about the forwards next because there's obviously tons of talent at that position, uh, uh, even just at Michigan State.

We'll just stay with Michigan State real quick.

He had 26 points in 35 games at Penn State last season.

Cayden Lindstrom, the fourth pick in the 2024 draft, and perhaps my favorite name in the entire NHL, played 14 games with the Blue Jackets last year, Luka Del Bel Belusz up front.

So when you take the collective here and your captain is gone, you've got some things that were a little bit unsettled now appear to be somewhat settled as we head towards training camp.

Can this team take the final step to just make the playoffs this year? Where do you see them?