New York Rangers Regular Season Review: Defense
By Conor Power
Ryan Lindgren
It has not been the easiest of seasons for Ryan Lindgren. This isn’t due to a performance as the Burnsville, Minnesota native was able to perform at his sparkling best defensively, but more in the health category due to Lindgren missing almost the entire final quarter of the season due to an injury he suffered after taking a big hit from Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie.
Lindgren is expected to be ready to go for game one, and I feel like that needs to be cleared up specifically due to his inability to stay in the lineup at the tail end of the season. Some of the Ranger fans who checked out and wanted to watch the Knicks close out their playoff push or watch the Yankees get things started out in the MLB may not be aware that the defenseman has not been healthy.
Lindgren did not have a spectacular season in terms of his basic production. Tallying just 1 goal and 17 assists for 18 points in 63 games, there wasn’t the offensive output you may want. However, those 18 points are a career-high for Lindgren. The offense is just not where you’re going to see New York’s number 55 make his money. He’s a defensive stalwart and he is going to need to continue to be that.
Anyone that watched the games where Lindgren was absent will know just how important he is. This is clearly a team that improves with their first-line left-shot defenseman. He’s become such an integral part of this roster at such a young age that losing him in this postseason for any extended period of time may very well mean the Rangers’ chances at a deep playoff run take a nose dive.