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After spending the last couple of weeks on Vancouver’s taxi squad, it’s been confirmed that Kole Lind will make his NHL debut tonight.
Kole Lind is set to make his NHL debut tonight, per coach Green. pic.twitter.com/9dWt3eqvrb
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) April 29, 2021
Lind will be the first Canuck to wear #78.
After a slow rookie season in the AHL, Lind has picked up his game with 19 goals and 52 points in 69 games dating back to the beginning of last season.
So far this year in Utica, Lind has five goals and eight points in eight games.
While there’s always an abundance of hype for a highly-touted prospect to make his NHL debut, it’s worth remembering that Lind hasn’t played a professional hockey game since March 3rd. He left that face with a face injury.
Lind's last game was March 3 with Utica after getting hit in the face in game against Rochester.
— Ben Birnell (@OD_Birnell) April 29, 2021
COVID issues and games postponed for both Comets and Canucks also a factor in not playing since early March
Regardless, there will be intrigue to see what the former 33rd overall pick in 2017 can provide for the Canucks. Our former writer Daniel Gee did a great job of breaking down Lind’s game in the AHL here, in case you’re not sure what to expect from the 22-year-old.
Although this was a highly anticipated decision, Travis Green was steadfast that he was not going to insert young guys into the line-up if they didn’t give them a chance to win. He mentioned that several times in the post-game presser yesterday, and he snapped on The Athletic’s Thomas Drance for asking about the possibility of seeing Lind and Rathbone last week.
Less than a week ago I was an entitled jerk getting dunked on for asking about whether Kole Lind might play.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 29, 2021
Today, Lind makes his NHL debut.
Accepting apologies, as usual: https://t.co/PThG2aS2u9
No word yet on who comes out of the line-up, but the one and only Kent Basky should have you covered on that during his game day preview. Green did also mention this morning that Braden Holtby gets the start, while Jalen Chatfield draws back into the line-up.
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