Rabbit said Lin’s offensive numbers obscure his defensive capabilities.
“I think one of the most underrated things for him, and I think it’s because of his size, is that he’s a very physical person,” Rabbit said. “He separates the man from the puck, and that it’s very underrated skill. He’s a very good defender with his stick and the way he anticipates plays on the defensive side. If he’s 6-foot-2, he’s going up (in the draft), to be honest. But because of his stature, that’s the bias against him. But he’s a complete defenseman, he’s right there.”
The son of educators, Lin followed his older brother, Teo, into hockey. Teo was a forward and captain with Richmond of the Pacific Junior Hockey League this season.
“When my dad signed him up for hockey when he was 5, I tagged along,” Ryan said. “I wasn’t on the ice, on his team or anything. But I started at a really early age, maybe 3 years old. Once I could join the team, I did.”
Lin said his father, Weily, a second generation Canadian who is half Japanese and Taiwanese, grew up playing soccer and didn’t play much hockey, but that didn’t stop him from getting on the ice with his kids.
“He really liked soccer and still follows it,” Ryan said. “But hockey kind of takes over everything.”
Lin said he’s looking forward to the NHL Draft in June and is excited about playing with the University of Denver next season. Denver defeated Wisconsin 2-1 on April 11 for its 11th NCAA Frozen Four championship.
“Yeah, that’s the experience I want,” Lin said. “Really good coaching staff, really good track record of producing high-end defensemen, and everything about it was so awesome.”
