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New York Rangers: Lindgren the new Girardi, other takeaways

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: The New York Rangers leave the ice following a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: The New York Rangers leave the ice following a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 16: Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers is escorted off the ice for repairs after getting hit with a high stick by David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins during the first period at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 16: Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers is escorted off the ice for repairs after getting hit with a high stick by David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins during the first period at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Lindgren the new Girardi

While Artemi Panarin will walk off with most of the accolades at the end of the year, you can make a case for Ryan Lindgren winning Breakout Player of the Year.

After all, the gritty defenseman has emerged as one of the most consistent players for the New York Rangers this year, and he’s forged a partnership with Adam Fox that could become the bedrock of this defense for years to come.

And, while Fox is more of a Rolls Royce type defenseman, Lindgren’s play resembles heavy rock and he brings certain intangibles to the table that are otherwise missing from this roster.

For one, Lindgren is a real gritty, no-nonsense blueliner who won’t ever make many highlight reels, but he will ensure the Rangers are responsible in their own zone when he’s on the ice.

Lindgren is also incredibly tough and he’s not afraid to drop the gloves and stick up for his teammates.

He puts his body on the line too and, in that sense, Lindgren is almost a new version of Dan Girardi in that he plays with a warrior-like mentality on the ice.

And this was seen again on Sunday as the 22-year-old went about his business sporting war wounds to his face, laying on three hits and also shoving Bruins star Patrice Bergeron.

That of course led to both a cross-check and a war of words from Brad Marchand, who always has to have the last say.

He also made a real impressive play to shut down David Pastrnak, sending the star to the ice and then retrieving the puck.

But, whereas Marchand doesn’t believe that Ryan Lindgren will last very long in the NHL, it is clear that the New York Rangers have found a gritty defenseman who can become a stabilizing anchor on their blueline for years to come.

And, after having three separate altercations with Marchand, Lindgren is proving with every game that, like Dan Girardi, he’s fearless and can be a warrior for the Blueshirts going forward.

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