Phil 5,111 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 C- Niklas Lindberg Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden Height: 6'4" Weight: 205lbs Jersey Number: 91 Drafted: S33 TOR (2/2) Username: boubabi As hockey fans, there are always those top players that we have the privilege to watch as they start their careers. We watch in awe as their careers unfold and they develop into a superstar. And once that career is over, we looked back in appreciation of the talent and feel very lucky we got to live and share his victories and achievements. Niklas Lindberg is one of those players. Niklas Lindberg entered the league in the S32 VHLM Dispersal draft, where he was picked 26th overall by Bratislava Watchmen. After being traded to the Olso Storm just as the season started, he had a very quiet year, collecting just 27 points, but Lindberg was just settling into the ebb and flow of the community and league and as time would prove, he would become one of the most prolific scorers to ever lace up in the VHL. In the Season 33 VHL Entry Draft, Toronto Legion, with their second pick of the draft, selected Niklas Lindberg at 12th overall. With their first selection at third overall, they had selected Odin Tordahl and interestingly enough, these two players were the only ones to make their way into the VHL HoF. Lindberg needed some more time developing before he would be VHL-ready, so the Legion sent him back down to the VHLM where he played another season with Bratislava, managing to capture a Founder's Cup, and lead his team in points with a stunning 126,including 56 goals. He was also awarded the Playoff MVP for his efforts in the off-season, leading all players in goals and points. Toronto were more than please with his progress and welcomed him with open arms into their line-up in Season 34. Career Awards: Season 33 - Founder's Cup (Bratislava) Season 33 - Esposito Trophy Season 34 - Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy Season 36 - Devon Marlow-Marta Trophy (Toronto) Season 36 - Victory Cup (Toronto) Season 37- Devon Marlow-Marta Trophy (Toronto) Season 37 - Continental Cup (Toronto) Season 38 - Devon Marlow-Marta Trophy (Toronto) Season 39 - Scott Boulet Trophy Season 37 - Continental Cup (Toronto) Season 38 - Devon-Marlow Marta Trophy (Toronto) Season 40 - Terrence Fong Trophy (Riga) Season 40 - Continental Cup (Riga) Season 40 - Kevin Brooks Trophy Season 40 - Mike Szatkowski Torphy Season 40 - Brett Slobodzian Trophy Season 34 Statistics: Regular Season: S34(TOR) - 72GP / 24G / 48A / 72P / +26 / 20PIM / 44HIT / 321S / 19SB / 2GWG / 48.5F% Lindberg was launched into a second and fourth line center role and he failed to disappoint, having a phenomenal start to his career, scoring 24 goals and collecting 72 points. He took the rookie scoring race handily, as the second highest rookie scorer, Willem Jannsen, had just 58. Toronto faired very well in the regular season, collecting 92 points. however, because of a very strong North American Conference they actually missed out on a playoff spot, as the Americans stole the last place with 94 points. Regardless, the season finished on a high note for Lindberg because he was awarded the prestigious Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy for Top Rookie. Season 35 Statistics: Regular Season: S35(TOR) - 72GP / 39G / 64A / 103P / +52 / 69PIM / 168HIT / 376S / 29SB / 7GWG / 52.1F% Playoffs: S35(TOR) - 7GP / 1G / 4A / 5P / +2 / 12PIM / 17HIT / 1SB / 39S / 0GWG / 51.0F% The Legion, feeling quite shafted that they had not made the playoffs the previous season, were highly motivated not to throw away any points at all. Lindberg, full of confidence after his terrific rookie season, dominated the league's second line match-ups, leading Toronto in points with 103 and finished fourth in scoring among centers. Toronto easily managed to get into a playoff spot with their 96 total, comfortably edging out the Bears by 26 points. They met Calgary in the playoffs and jumped out to a 3-1 series lead. However, after two heart-breaking OT losses, Calgary went into Game 7 on home ice and with all the momentum and took the series there with a 3-1 victory. Season 36 Statistics: Regular Season: S36(TOR) - 72GP / 32G / 53A / 85P / +20 / 83PIM / 170HIT / 29SB / 345S / 2GWG / 57.0F% Playoffs: S36(TOR) - 13GP / 6G / 11A / 17P / +4 / 8PIM / 24HIT / 10SB / 51S / 1 GWG / 47.7F% Season 36 saw a changing of the guard in Toronto, with Sandro Desaulniers handing over the reins to Tyler Edgar after a decade of service to the club. The new GM brought in some big names in order to drive towards a Continental Cup, acquiring the talent of Dunlop and Salmon. The 4 pre-season deals Tyler made did not affect the chemistry of the team and only improved it. Toronto improved its point total to 113 and captured their first Victory Cup since Season 29 - the last time they had won the Cup (and with six points less). Lindberg, still playing second-line center to Kjellberg, suffered a bit offensively, his point total dropping down to a still respectable 85. Despite this he managed a career high in goals with 32 and hits with 170, foreshadowing what was to come. They met Quebec in the Conference Finals, where they won in 6 games, taking them into Lindberg's first finals to face the Dynamo. The Legion took a 3-1 series lead, scoring 16 goals in the first 4 games, but only managed 5 in the next three and lost another series where they had been just one game away from winning. Season 37 Statistics: Regular Season: S37(TOR) - 72GP / 41G / 73A / 114P / +50 / 80PIM / 136HIT / 48SB / 408S / 9GWG / 62.1F% Playoffs: S37(TOR) - 10GP / 4G / 7A / 11P / +8 / 18PIM / 24HIT / 10SB / 35S / 0GWG / 52.1F% After once again having a taste of the finals, the Legion were hungry to get right back there. Edgar made 3 off-season moves, including trading Nikita Lebedev for 6 pieces and bringing in Anatoli Zhumbayev from Helsinki. Lindberg finally got a chance at the first-line center position, and paired with Zhumbayev, they made a formidable duo, collecting 114 and 105 points, respectively. Lindberg also was dominant in the face-off circle, winning 62.1% of the draws he took. Lindberg finished second in the league in assists, only behind Connor Low and was one point away from winning the scoring title, just losing out to fellow draftee and former teammate Odin Tordahl, who was with New York at the time. The Legion topped the North American Conference once again but couldn't repeat the Victory Cup effort. Toronto met Seattle in the Conference finals and dispatched them in 6 games. They went on to met Davos for a repeat of last season, except with different results. LeBeau was phenomenal in net, stopping 128 of 133 shots, including 50 in Game 4, which went to double OT before Dunlop ended it on the powerplay and Toronto rejoiced as they lifted the Continental Cup. Lindberg couldn't have been happier to finally get his first Cup. Season 38 Statistics: Regular Season: S38(TOR) - 72GP / 48G / 58A / 106P / +42 / 97PIM / 201HIT / 48SB / 467S / 11GWG / 60.5F% Playoffs: S38(TOR) - 18GP / 5G / 11A / 16P / +3 / 25PIM / 51HIT / 11SB / 83S / 2GWG / 54.8F% Coming off a Cup-high, Lindberg and Zhumbayev picked up right where they left off and led the team in scoring with 106 and 109 points, respectively. Lindberg earned his highest goal total to date, scoring just under the prestigious 50-goal milestone with 48. He also recorded more hits than any of his previous seasons, eclipsing the 200-mark with 201 and scored a career-high 11 game winners. The Legion ended up in a comfortable second place position in the conference with 95 points and were set to play the Bears in the first round of the playoffs. For the second consecutive season, they dispatched them in 6 games. They then upset the Americans in six games during the Conference Finals, with Lindberg scoring the go-ahead goal in the final game. And so for the third straight season, the Legion found themselves in the VHL Finals facing HC Davos Dynamo. The Legion went down 3-1 in the series, suffering a humiliating 7-1 loss at home before grinding out a well-fought victory in which Lindberg scored the game winning goal late in the third period. However, it wasn't enough as they lost Game 6 in OT, being completely shut down by Lennox Moher. This was the last game Lindberg ever played for Toronto. Season 39 Statistics: Regular Season: S39(VAS) - 72GP / 50G / 58A / 108P / +40 / 105PIM / 299HIT / 38SB / 466S / 8GWG/ 63.1F% Playoffs: S39(VAS) - 7GP / 2G / 5A / 7P / 0 / 15PIM / 20HIT / 2SB / 44S / 1GWG / 61.7F% Over in Europe, Vasteras were once again struggling. Having only two Cups to their name, once in the inaugural season of the VHL and then again 25 seasons later in S26, Vasteras still had yet to make a Finals appearance since then and GM Thomas Corcoran could feel the wind of change blowing. He convinced Edgar to trade Lindberg and Sixten in exchange for Sundberg, Leiter, and an S41 1st. There were already whisperings of Corcoran stepping down and Lindberg's agent, Prevost, seemed to be on the radar as his successor. Lindberg found himself on a line with Willem Janssen, the man who finished second in rookie scoring the year Lindberg won the Stolzschweiger Trophy. Together, they top the team in scoring with 108 points each. Lindberg even managed to hit 50 goals on the season! On top of that, he delivered a career high 299 hits, good for 5th most in the league. For his two-way play he was awarded the Scott Boulet Trophy at the end of the season; his second individual accolade. Vasteras finished with 101 points and faced-off against Riga Reign to begin their playoff run. It was a back and forth series and the Iron Eagles were up 3-2 until Riga responded with a Game 6 shutout to force Game 7. Nothing was decided after 60 minutes so overtime ensued. 47 seconds into the second overtime period, Niklas Valiq scored for Reign and ended Vasteras' Cup run early once again. Corcoran stepped down later that week, after nearly ten seasons of service to the franchise, and Prevost was given the job. Season 40 Statistics: Regular Season: S40(VAS/RIG) - 72GP / 65G / 64A / 129P / +62 / 94PIM / 224HIT / 98SB / 532S / 12GWG / 62.3F% Playoffs: S40(RIG) - 16GP / 5G / 10A / 15P / +1 / 16PIM / 39HIT / 4SB / 100S / 0GWG / 62.0F% With Lindberg in his final season of his VHL career and his agent in charge of the Iron Eagles, many saw a deadline deal involving Lindberg coming. Prevost managed to get a S42 1st, which translated into Vogon Jeltz, from Riga in exchange for Lindberg's services as Riga made a strong push for the Continental Cup. Lindberg put up a career high in points with 129, including a tremendous tally of 65 goals, enough to lead the league and capture the Kevin Brooks Trophy as well as obtaining the Mike Szatkowski Trophy for leading the league in points. After a hard-fought, seven-game series with Helsinki, Riga went on to face VHL favourites and the Victory Cup winning side of Cologne. Shockingly, Riga got out the brooms and swept them away in 4 games, finishing them off with a 4-0 victory. Brimming with confidence, the Reign prepared to do battle with the Americans. This was Lindberg's last shot at another Continental Cup. During Game 5, with Riga up 3-1 in the series, the unlikely hero of Jarkko Olsen managed to find the back of the net 6 minutes into overtime to give Riga their first Continental Cup in 8 seasons and sent of Lindberg with a bang. During the off-season, Lindberg was awarded the Brett Slobodzian award. Career Totals: Regular Season: 504GP / 299G / 418A / 717P / +292 / 548PIM / 1242HIT / 309SB / 2915S / 51GWG / 57.9F% Playoffs: 71GP / 23G / 48 / 71P / +18 / 94PIM / 175HIT / 38SB / 352S / 4GWG / 54.9F% Although Lindberg won a Boulet Trophy, he will never be remembered for his 2-way play. Over the course of his career, he had taken 600 more hits than he dished out. What he will be remembered for is his prolific scoring profile. Only two seasons of his career did he not managed to get more than 100 points. He was a feared opponent in the VHL and his presence on the ice boosted everyone's play around him. Lindberg seemed to just get better and better each season and never failed to disappoint the fans with his stunning speed, agility, and hands. His place in the Hall of Fame is as well-deserved as any and all that have left their mark on VHL history. boubabi and Victor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire Tortorella 2,653 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Decent player! Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Victor 10,831 Posted August 10, 2015 Admin Share Posted August 10, 2015 Back before boubabi went full dickhead. <3 I only realised how good Lindberg was after he left Toronto I think. Stats-wise that is. Facing him in two finals he was quite obviously a threat from a skill level. But looking back it was basically his and LeBeau's team, that Legion. Lots of Ls. Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boubabi 4,725 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 I can fap to this. And fuckoff Victor, I'm a dick since I was born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Victor 10,831 Posted August 10, 2015 Admin Share Posted August 10, 2015 I can fap to this. And fuckoff Victor, I'm a dick since I was born. compensating, amirite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Admin Will 4,660 Posted August 10, 2015 Senior Admin Share Posted August 10, 2015 Well done Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boubabi 4,725 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 compensating, amirite? yes, for my for lack of empathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowboyinAmerica 2,840 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Claimed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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