Jason La Rose
WJAC Experience: Sweden – 2011 | 4th Place WJAC Statistics: 4 GP 0G 0A 0P
NHL Entry Draft: Anaheim Ducks 2012 (1st round, 6th overall) NHL Statistics (as of Dec. 3): 180 GP 15G 56A 71P
Other International Experience: 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship (silver medal)
At the WJAC: Although he went pointless in Langley, Lindholm anchored a Swedish blue-line that included five other NHL draft picks – Calle Andersson (NYR, 2012); Linus Arnesson (BOS, 2013); Ludwig Bystrom (DAL, 2012); Robert Hagg (PHI, 2013); and Jesper Pettersson (PHI, 2014).
Sweden became the first team to post back-to-back shutouts, holding the United States and Canada West goalless in the preliminary round, but a 2-1 overtime loss to West in the semifinal and a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the U.S. in the bronze medal game left the Swedes without a medal.
After the WJAC: Named the U20 Super Elit League’s top defenceman after the 2011-12 season, Lindholm was ranked fourth among European skaters for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and was the second Euro taken, going sixth overall to the Anaheim Ducks.
The Helsingborg, Sweden, native immediately made the jump to North America, joining the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in Norfolk for the 2012-13 season before making his NHL debut the following year. He has become a mainstay of the Anaheim defence corps, missing only five of a possible 185 games in his first two-plus NHL campaigns and posting back-to-back seasons of at least 30 points.