As per report from http://www.hockeysverige.se
AVSLÖJAR: Nu har Pär Lindholm gjort sitt NHL-val
Efter en säsong som innehållit både OS-spel och en SM-final tar Skellefteå AIK:s förstacenter Pär Lindholm avsked av Sverige. Enligt säkra källor till hockeysverige.se har 26-åringen gjort sitt val. Nästa säsong spelar han för Toronto Maple Leafs i NHL.
I fjol skrev Toronto Maple Leafs kontrakt med både Andreas Borgman och Calle Rosén efter SHL-säsongens slut. Nu tyder allt på att den klassiska NHL-klubben kommer att plocka in ännu en svensk till nästa säsong.
Enligt uppgifter till hockeysverige.se har Skellefteå AIK:s Pär Lindholm nämligen bestämt sig för att försöka slå sig in i Leafs. Detta efter att ha varit jagad av en mängd olika NHL-klubbar efter sin stora genombrottssäsong i SHL. Lindholms representanter har sökts för en kommentar till uppgifterna, utan framgång.
Lindholm kom fyra i SHL:s poängliga den här säsongen med 47 poäng (18+29) på 49 matcher efter att framgångsrikt ha centrat Skellefteås förstakedja med Joakim Lindström och Oscar Möller på varsin kant. Han representerade även Tre Kronor på OS i Sydkorea ihop med samma kedjekamrater.
TRE CENTRAR FÖRVÄNTAS LÄMNA KLUBBEN
Toronto Maple Leafs har tre centrar som sitter på utgående kontrakt och förväntas försvinna i sommar, Tyler Bozak, Tomas Plekanec och Dominic Moore. Nästa säsong kommer laget att ha Auston Matthews och Nazem Kadri som första- respektive andracenter. Bakom dessa stjärnspelare kommer det att finnas utrymme för Lindholm att slåss om en plats.
Pär Lindholm draftades aldrig som junior, utan har tagit den långa vägen till stjärnstatusen i SHL. Två säsonger med Sundsvall i Hockeyallsvenskan följdes upp av ett år med Piteå i Hockeyettan innan han hamnade i Karlskrona 2013/14. Där stod han för 42 poäng på 52 matcher, vilket blev en biljett tillbaka till Skellefteå.
De senaste fyra säsongerna har han spelat för sin tidigare juniorklubb med tre SM-silver som facit.
Translation
After a season that included both Olympic Games and a SM final, Skellefteå AIK’s first-class Pär Lindholm takes part in Sweden. According to safe sources of hockeysverige.se, the 26-year-old has made his choice. Next season he plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs in NHL.
Last year Toronto Maple Leaf signed a contract with Andreas Borgman and Calle Rosén after the end of the SHL season. Now everything seems that the classic NHL club will pick up another Swedish to the next season.
According to information for hockeysverige.se, Skellefteå AIK’s Pär Lindholm has decided to try to get into Leaf’s. This after being chased by a variety of NHL clubs after its major breakthrough season in SHL. Lindholm’s representatives have been sought for a comment on the data, without success.
Lindholm scored four in SHL’s scoring this season with 47 points (18 + 29) on 49 games after successfully reaching the center of Skellefteå’s front row with Joakim Lindström and Oscar Möller on each side. He also represented Three Crowns on the Olympic Games in South Korea together with the same chainmates.
THREE CENTER IS LOOKED FOR THE LEAVING CLUB
Toronto Maple Leafs has three centers on outgoing contracts and is expected to disappear this summer, Tyler Bozak, Tomas Plekanec and Dominic Moore. Next season, the team will have Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri as first and second center. Behind these star players, there will be room for Lindholm to fight for a place.
Pär Lindholm never drafted as a junior, but has taken the long way to the star status in SHL. Two seasons with Sundsvall in Hockeyallsvenskan were followed up by one year with Piteå in the Hockeyette before he ended in Karlskrona 2013/14. There he stood for 42 points on 52 matches, which became a ticket back to Skellefteå.
For the past four seasons he has played for his former junior club with three SM-silver as a facit.
Additional information
Hockeysverige.se says they have tried to get a comment from his agent, but they haven’t responded. However, they are firm in their claim that the Skellefteå star centre will sign with Toronto after being pursued by several teams. There was a report out of the draft lottery day interview with Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning that they had decided not to sign the 26-year-old forward.
Lindholm began to be noticed in 2016-2017 by the Swedish National team, and he played eight games that season in international competition. This year, he played 11 games, including four Olympic games where he had one goal.
He is under contract to Skellefteå next season, but those deals often have NHL out-clauses. He has played his entire career for that club, barring a trip through the Allsvenskan and Division 1 for three years as he went from junior to the senior team. His professional career has not been a perfect straight line, and he is definitely a late-bloomer.
He is listed at 5’11” and 187 lbs, and shoots left.