The Philadelphia Flyers have signed winger Oskar Lindblom to a three-year, $9-million contract. Lindblom was scheduled to become a restricted free agent after this season.
The 23-year-old was off to a hot start to the season with 11 goals and 18 points in 30 games but was shut down in December after being diagnosed with bone cancer.
On July 2, Lindblom completed his final chemotherapy treatments and his medical team determined that cancer was no longer present in his body. During Phase 2 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan, Lindblom briefly skated with teammates although no timeline for him to return to game action has been determined yet. However, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher told local reporters Tuesday that the club is planning on having Lindblom join them in Toronto for workouts and he will be eligible to play.
“I wouldn’t certainly put any limits on Oskar,” Fletcher said. “We’ll obviously do everything we can to protect him, but he’s looking forward to restarting his life and his career. Whatever that means, we’ll find out.”
Some amazing news!
Oskar Lindblom rings the bell to signal the end of his cancer treatment.
: @NHLFlyers pic.twitter.com/uPd6xU6psZ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 2, 2020
“I am very excited to be a part of the Flyers for the next three seasons,” Lindblom said in a statement. “The support that the organization, the fans, and the entire NHL has given me has been quite overwhelming. I can’t wait to get back skating with the boys and being the professional hockey player I know I can be. I want to thank the Flyers for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to the day I’m back and contributing to the team’s success.”
Lindblom was recently named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to a player “who best embodies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game of hockey.”
July 22, 2020
Philadelphia Flyers
