Oskar Lindblom signs two-year deal with Sharks

Philadelphia Flyers left wing Oskar Lindblom (23), returning to the lineup after battling cancer. (Frank Gunn/CP)

Oskar Lindblom has signed a two-year deal with the San Jose Sharks, the team announced Wednesday, landing a home in free agency one day after being bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team.

Lindblom, a former fifth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2014, spent parts of five seasons with the Flyers. He scored 12 goals and assisted on 14 others in 79 regular-season games during the 2021-22 campaign.

In 2019-20, Lindblom was on pace to establish career-best scoring numbers, picking up 11 goals and 18 points across 30 games before being diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

After completing his treatment at Philadelphia's Abramson Cancer Center, Lindblom returned to the lineup on Sept. 3 in Game 6 of the Flyers' post-season matchup with New York Islanders. He suited up for the next game too, averaging more than 17 minutes of ice-time in his return to the ice.

Reflecting on the tumultuous journey, Lindblom spoke about the importance of the support from his teammates and the entire hockey world during his recovery.

"It's been everything," he told NHL.com. "They talked to me like I'm still with the team even if I'm not there.

"Those tough weeks, when I felt so bad and trying to think about life and they'd call me, text me, help me get more energy. It helped me through the whole process."

Lindblom was named the Flyers nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the NHL award given annually to the player who best embodies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game of hockey following the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

He was named a finalist by the NHL for the award for both seasons and won the Masterton following the 2020-21 season, becoming just the fourth Flyers player to receive the award in franchise history.

When announcing the buyout on Tuesday, the Flyers said they would be donating $100,000 in Lindblom's name to a local organization that supports families impacted by cancer.

"This was a very difficult decision to make and one that we spent a lot of time examining," Chuck Fletcher, the Flyers general manager and president of hockey operations, said. "No one can question the desire, will and strength to overcome all that Oskar has been through off the ice in order to return to the game he loves. Further, Oskar's commitment to his teammates and impact in our room has been immeasurable."

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