Red Deer Rebels forward Kalan Lind is coming off his best season in the Western Hockey League.
The 18-year-old notched 44 points, plus five more in the playoffs to reach his highest career total in major junior hockey.
That will certainly come into play at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft as Lind is poised to be a second or third-round selection.
He said it’s starting to become more nerve-wracking than exciting with the draft just two months away.
“It is exciting and it’s a big path in my career but I’m trying to look past it and get ready for next year. Help our team be a good team next year,” he explained.
“I think I had a pretty good year this year. There was some ups and downs but that happens in every hockey player’s career. I think I’ve put myself in a pretty good spot to be taken in this year’s draft, going to camp, and then coming into next year and having a really good season next year with this team.”
Despite not getting the official invite to the NHL Combine yet, Lind fully expects to be there in June.
Before then Lind plans to head down to visit his brother Kole Lind who plays for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. He’s been a reliable resource in how to prepare for the pros.
“My brother’s taught me [how to approach the combine and draft]. I talk to him quite a bit and I’m going to go head down and see him for a couple of days before I get back into training… so it’ll be nice to see him for a couple of days.”
Lind battled the injury bug missing nearly two months of action toward the end of the regular season before making it back in time for the postseason. After making it through most of the playoffs without any more setbacks, Lind was carried off the ice on a stretcher in Game 4 of the second round after Saskatoon Blades Justin Lies caught Lind with an open-ice hit to the head.
“I watched the hit back I don’t really have any thoughts on it. I don’t really care, it’s a hockey play. It happens to you, you look past it, and I don’t really hold grudges or anything on it,” he said.
“It’s a little bit scary watching it but obviously nothing bad came of it so it’s nice that way.”
Lind missed the rest of Game 4, 5, and 6 before returning in Game 7. He said healthwise he feels good and has no concussion symptoms. The trainers he added did a great job and got him back as soon as possible.
“I just remember [Athletic Therapist Terrance Robertson] was saying my name. Rolling over and seeing ‘T’ there I was kind of seeing stars. I was out of it a little bit for sure,” he explained.
The Rebels went on to lose that game followed by the next three but Lind is already looking forward to next season.
“You never really want it to end that way. It’s a seven-game series and obviously, we took an early lead and went from there… They’re a really good team they played with us all the way through every game,” he said.
“It was a battle and we didn’t come out with the results we wanted to but next year we’re going to come back with that attitude we’re going to win next year and we’re going to have the group to do it.”
The draft will be the cherry on top of a memorable season for Lind that began with winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Next season Lind will be back with the Rebels but with a bigger role as a veteran player.
“It’s pretty weird coming here just a couple of years ago and it’s pretty new. Then you’re losing some pretty good 20s this year with King, Sedoff, and Isley. They’re all fantastic people and they’re some of my best friends,” he said.
“They’re going to have great careers but next year it’s going to be time for us young guys to step up now. Be those older guys and take charge in that locker room and on the ice.”