Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers: The most improved player this season

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: New York Rangers Defenceman Ryan Lindgren (55) on ice during an Eastern Conference match-up between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers on November 10, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: New York Rangers Defenceman Ryan Lindgren (55) on ice during an Eastern Conference match-up between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers on November 10, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
MADISON, WI – FEBRUARY 10: Minnesota defense Ryan Lindgren (5) tries to clear the puck while Wisconsin left wing Max Zimmer (22) skates in during a college hockey match between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers on February 10, 2018 at the Kohl Center in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MADISON, WI – FEBRUARY 10: Minnesota defense Ryan Lindgren (5) tries to clear the puck while Wisconsin left wing Max Zimmer (22) skates in during a college hockey match between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers on February 10, 2018 at the Kohl Center in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Where did he come from?

Ryan Lindgren was not quite a throw-in in the trade that sent Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins in February 2018.  He had been the 49th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.  The Burnsville, Minnesota native had played two seasons with the  U.S. National Development Team.  After he was drafted, he played at the University of Minnesota for two years, serving as alternate captain in his second year while scoring three goals and 13 assists in 67 games.  He made the Big Ten All-Rookie team and was an honorable mention for the All Big Ten team in 2018.

At the time of the trade to New York, the highlight of the deal was the first round draft pick and Ryan Spooner.  As the New York Times put it, “The Rangers also received a college defenseman, Ryan Lindgren, and Boston’s seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft.”

USA Today wrote “Lindgren was taken in the second round of the 2016 draft. He is not considered among their top prospects, but is only 20 years old and plays a physical game.”

For a while it looked like they were right.  Lindgren signed his Entry Level Contract in time for him to play for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the 2018-19 season. Turning pro was a learning experience as he didn’t score a goal while notching 12 assists.  It’s worth noting that his plus/minus was -1, not bad for a defenseman on a last place Wolf Pack team with a minus 57 goal differential. .

He saw two brief stints with the Rangers, playing five games and finishing pointless and minus six.  While he played physically, he was living up to his reputation as a solid defensive player with an average upside.

Home/Editorials