Halifax. Karl Lindbom was drafted first in the seventh round – just like his idol Henrik Lundqvist.
Now the Junior Crowns goalkeeper has succeeded at JVM and uses Lundqvist’s success as inspiration:
– I checked other Swedish goalkeepers who were recruited late and whose name came first, says Lindbom.
Karl Lindbom was a resounding success at the Youth World Cup and conceded only two goals in the first three matches. He is currently ranked as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
– I feel good and my body is good. I’m well trained for that,” says Lindbom, who will likely stand in for all of the junior crowns at the tournament.
But there wasn’t much fanfare about the Swedish goalkeeper during his draft year.
The 2021 NHL Draft is in its absolute final stage, the seventh and final round. Only three other players will be selected by Vegas, Tampa Bay and Arizona.
At least 22 Swedes have already been elected, but not Carl Lindbom. The Swedish goalkeeper does not appear to be one of the 224 players signed by an NHL club.
Then the golden knights of Vegas decided to strike. They tarnished the zookeeper as 222 out of 224 players in total, certainly nothing the club regrets today.
– Of course, people believed that nothing would happen, so it was special when I was elected. I felt like if I was going to be drafted it would be by Vegas.
I didn’t know it was formulated
But then and there the hero himself had no idea what was going on in the final stages of the draft:
– No, we were at some U20 challenges, some small JVM preparations, so I was in the US at the time. I couldn’t catch up on the draft on site or with my family, but I just sat in the stands and watched the game.
How did you learn then?
– I got a lot of text messages from my family and my girlfriend that I was chosen.
He’s not the only one to be a Swedish goalkeeper and be drafted into the seventh round.
The most notable example is Henrik Lundqvist who was selected first by the New York Rangers in the seventh round and the rest is history…
– When I was recruited, I checked a bit about other Swedish goalkeepers who were recruited late and whose name came up first. It’s so much fun and I’m so inspired by it and it’s been my idol since I was very young, so it’s cool,” says Lindblom.
Is it so inspiring to see his journey from seventh round pick in the draft to one of the best goaltenders in the world?
– Absolutely! He’s an incredibly competitive person, says Karl Lindbom, and I think I am.