Rookie Experience: Oskar Lindbergh

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Rookie Experience: Oskar Lindbergh

 

Despite being one of the most highly touted prospects at the goaltender position, let alone in the Season 80 VHL Entry Draft class, few knew what to expect from Oskar Lindbergh. He had played very well on the Yukon Rush in the VHLM, but his progress in the VHLE with the Vasteras Iron Eagles seemed to have been stymied. His razor-sharp focus didn't seem to be there, and Lindbergh simply looked lost in net. But just as suddenly as he dropped off, Oskar Lindbergh picked his game right back up, and the flashes of what made him the fourth overall pick by the Toronto Legion were there once more. Although he wound up never taking the ice in the VHLE Playoffs, Lindbergh worked tirelessly to be prepared in the event he was needed, and shortly after the Iron Eagles won the Renaissance Cup, he was named to Team Europe for the World Juniors Championship. 

 

If Oskar Lindbergh was looking to have a strong showing at the World Juniors Championship to carry over momentum into his rookie season in the VHL, it certainly showed. Starting in all eight games of round robin play for Team Europe, Lindbergh won a tournament-high five games, posting a .929 save percentage and a 2.88 goals allowed average, once again looking like the can't-miss prospect he was in the VHLM. In the medal round, Lindbergh continued to play well, allowing just three goals on the 57 shots he faced from Team World, sending Team Europe to the Gold Medal game. Although they fell short against Team Canada, Lindbergh did his best to keep Europe in the game, stopping 57 of the 61 shots he faced. Silver medal in hand, Lindbergh had gotten the type of performance he knew he was capable of international play, but was he truly ready for the VHL?

 

 

The Toronto Legion were coming off of a last place finish in Season 80, but were receiving a wealth of young players ready to compliment the Season 80 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy winner, Matty Fire. However talented the young forward core was, the defense was lacking depth beyond free agent signing Jannik Nylen, and two forwards were switched to defense in order to have a defensive core. Combined with the rookie Oskar Lindbergh in net, expectations were not high, and many projected it to be a season of development for the Legion. However, after two shootout losses to the New York Americans, Toronto did something unexpected: they began to win, and frequently. The Legion proceeded to win six games in a row, highlighted by Lindbergh's first career shutout in a 5-0 win over the Seattle Bears, and rose not only to the top of the North American Conference, but the VHL as a whole. 

 

While the absolutely wild levels of success were unsustainable, it had become evident that Lindbergh and Toronto were not pushovers. They weren't at the top of the standings, but they had firmly planted themselves into playoff positioning just a season after finishing dead last in the league. Lindbergh’s play exceeded expectations, placing him in awards discussions for the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy, but the more important prize was securing a playoff berth, which the Legion accomplished. His 31-25-9 record, .916 save percentage, 3.51 GAA, and three shutouts had been instrumental to the Legion’s successful season. 

 

 

For Lindbergh and the five other rookies on the Toronto Legion, Season 81 has already been a major success, but now they have the opportunity to further that success against the Los Angeles Stars in what will be the first playoff series for many players on the Legion. It will be a difficult task for Lindbergh as he faces off against Rara Rasputin, a Continental Cup champion who won the Daisuke Kanou Trophy as the playoff MVP with the Seattle Bears in Season 77. It's been a whirlwind of a rookie season for Oskar Lindbergh, but he'll have the toughest test yet as Toronto plays their most meaningful games since Season 77.