The road that Hampus Lindholm has traveled to get back to this juncture in his career has been a long one. But judging by the smile on his face after his third training camp practice and team scrimmage, the big defenseman is just about where he wants to be.
“It’s really fun being out there with the guys and I put a lot of work into it to be back with the guys,” said Lindholm after Saturday’s workout. “I’m feeling better than I did before the injury. It’s been a lot of work, a lot of people around me to get me tot is point so I’ve just got to keep going at it.”
Lindholm’s 2024-25 season — which was shaping up as a good one for him, at least personally – was lost when when he took a shot off his knee in a game in St. Louis last November 12, breaking a kneecap. He tried to come back in January but the second screw he had inserted in the knee caused irritation and had to have another procedure, ending his season.
With the time off and his rehab work back home in Sweden with trainer Igor Vladimir, he feels even better than new, he said.
“That’s always been my mindset whenever I’ve been injured,” said Lindholm. “What’s the purpose of going away for that long if you don’t try to find ways to improve? I’ve had a really good team in Sweden, with a guy by the name of Vladimir, putting my knees to work, and strengthening them up. Both my knees, I feel like I’m in a good place for that. I put a lot of work in and I’m going to have to keep doing it. It’s going to be a long year but I feel good out there so far.”
It was in July that Lindholm felt like he finally got over the hump.
“You always have those little goals. But when I started skating in July, I started feeling like ‘Wow, I actually feel like myself,’” said Lindholm. “I didn’t feel like that the first time around when I tried to come back. I didn’t feel right at all. Obviously, you always wonder how it’s going to feel, but you don’t want to rush it to get on the ice because it’s a process. I remember in July I started skating and did some skill stuff and I was like ‘Wow, this actually feels good.’ I was fortunate to skate with a (Swedish Hockey League) team, Rogle, and I jumped into their training camp basically. I skate with them every summer and I’m very fortunate to hang around those guys and get team practices. They let me jump on the ice do my own stuff too, but that’s been very nice coming into camp. I’ve already kind of had it battled tested. They’re a month before us in Sweden, so I’ve already done some scrimmages and battles and all that stuff. So coming over here is a step up and the next test but it’s been a good little summer for me.”
While the B’s lines and defense pairs are still fluid, Lindholm has been skating with Andrew Peeke while Mason Lohrei has been up with Charlie McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov has been skating with Henri Jokiharju.
Lindholm gave his pairing an early thumbs up.
“I love Andrew,” said Lindholm. “He plays a game that I like. He plays hard. He also likes to make plays and jump up. He’s a great player. I got to see those guys play in Sweden at the World Championship. He has a lot of upside. The confidence you can see is growing and growing.”
Both Lindhom and McAvoy, who was knocked out for the season with a shoulder injury in the 4 Nations Faceoff in February, should provide a huge boost to the back end.
“Hampus is such an important leader. A lot of guys forget about him, I feel like. Everyone knows about Charlie” said coach Marco Sturm before Sunday’s preseason tilt against Washington at the Garden. “Both are very good leaders on and off the ice and when you miss both of them, you could feel it.”
