It has been quite the month for defenseman Anton Lindholm. First, he was surprisingly named to Team Sweden for the World Championship that just wrapped up in St. Petersburg. Then, on Tuesday, he signed a three-year, entry-level with the Colorado Avalanche.
Selected by the Avalanche in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Lindholm has spent the last two seasons with Skellefteå AIK, his hometown club in the Swedish Hockey League. In 30 games last season, the 21-year-old blueliner had four assists and was plus-3. He added one assist and was plus-6 in 16 playoff contests. He went pointless in the three games he played at the World Championship, registering a minus-3 rating.
Lindholm projects as a stay-at-home defenseman. Last season, he had 26 blocked shots. Despite his smallish stature (5-11, 194 pounds), he also led Skellefteå with 85. He ramped it up in the postseason, contributing with 27 blocked shots and 43 hits.
