Carl Lindbom’s First NHL Stint Had Its Bumps-But Don’t Count Him Out Just Yet
Carl Lindbom’s first taste of NHL action didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet-3.14 goals-against average, .870 save percentage over seven games. On paper, those numbers don’t scream "future starter." But context matters, and in Lindbom’s case, there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than raw stats can tell you.
The Vegas Golden Knights made the call to send the 22-year-old back to the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, recalling Carter Hart in his place. It’s a move that makes sense in the short term, but it’s far from a final verdict on Lindbom’s NHL future.
Let’s be clear: Lindbom is still very much a part of the Golden Knights’ long-term plans.
A Rookie Learning on the Fly
Lindbom came into this season with zero NHL experience. That’s a tall order for any goaltender, especially when your first handful of games come against offensive juggernauts like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers. Throw in some defensive zone turnovers and a lack of goal support, and you’ve got a recipe for a rough introduction to the league.
And while Lindbom held his own at times, there were also moments where his inexperience showed. He tended to overcommit on certain plays, biting too hard on initial movements and leaving himself vulnerable to second chances or cross-ice passes. NHL shooters-especially ones like Nikita Kucherov-don’t need much room to make you pay, and Lindbom learned that the hard way.
But here’s the thing: mistakes like that are fixable. These are the growing pains you expect from a young goalie adjusting to the speed and precision of the NHL. What matters now is how he responds.
Not All on the Goalie
It’s easy to look at a goalie’s numbers and assign blame, but hockey’s never that simple-especially not in Vegas’ system. Bruce Cassidy’s defensive structure is designed to limit high-danger chances, particularly from the slot. But when that system breaks down-whether from missed assignments, untimely penalties, or turnovers in your own zone-it puts a ton of pressure on the guy between the pipes.
Lindbom faced that pressure more than once. Defensive lapses, like the kind we’ve seen from even veteran blueliners such as Noah Hanifin, left him exposed.
And when the offense wasn’t clicking-like in his debut against Tampa Bay-there wasn’t much margin for error. One more goal from the Golden Knights in that game, and Lindbom walks away with a win instead of a learning experience.
The Path Forward
This isn’t a setback-it’s a stepping stone. Lindbom’s stint in the NHL gave him a firsthand look at the level he needs to reach. He’s shown flashes of the athleticism and positioning that made him a top prospect, and now he gets the chance to fine-tune his game in Henderson.
The key for Lindbom will be adjusting his angles and timing. Right now, he’s playing with the aggressive habits that worked in lower leagues but don’t always translate against NHL-caliber shooters.
That’s normal. Rookies often default to what they know, and it takes time-and reps-to recalibrate.
The good news? Lindbom has already shown a willingness to adapt.
He’s coachable, competitive, and confident-three traits you want in a young netminder. With more seasoning in the AHL and a clearer understanding of where he needs to improve, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be back in Vegas sooner rather than later.
Final Word
Carl Lindbom’s first NHL run didn’t end in fireworks, but it also didn’t end in failure. It was a crash course in what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and now he gets to take those lessons back to the AHL and build on them.
The Golden Knights didn’t bring him up expecting perfection-they brought him up to see what he’s made of. And while the numbers weren’t pretty, the potential is still very real.
Don’t be surprised if the next time Lindbom gets the call, he’s not just ready to stay-he’s ready to thrive.