Rangers Report Cards: Grading the Left Defenseman

Time to spill the beans on how the New York Rangers’ left defenseman held the blue line in 2022-23! Grab your popcorn and get ready for some serious analysis—don’t worry, we’ll keep the stats juicier than a power play goal. Let’s dive into our exclusive Rangers review and see who deserves an A+ and who’s just “skating” by! 

Hey there, devoted readers of Blue Line Station! Get ready to dive into some severe hockey analysis because we’re here to dish out grades for the New York Rangers’ left defenseman from the 2022-23 season.

We’ve already dissected the performances of the centers, left-wingers, and right-wingers, leaving no puck unturned.

In the coming days, we’ll be grading the right defenseman, the goaltenders who guard that net with all their might, the masterminds behind the strategies (coaches, of course), and even the folks in the front office who make it all happen. We’ll also be looking at the improvements or regression of the players since their midterms at the season’s halfway point.

So, buckle up and prepare for another deep dive into the world of Rangers hockey. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just someone who loves the sound of skates on ice, we have the breakdowns, the stats, and maybe even a surprise or two waiting for you.

Rangers Report Cards: Ryan Lindgren: A+ (A)

Lindgren sure had his ups and downs! The guy’s defense was sparkling like a disco ball, but the injury bug decided to crash his party.  On February 25th, T.J. Oshie from the Washington Capitals gave him a hit that would make even a superhero wince. Lindgren was absent for the next few weeks, and it showed. In terms of offense, Lindgren wasn’t exactly setting the ice on fire.

He scored about as many goals as a penguin trying to play hopscotch. That said, his goal and 17
assists accumulated to a career-high 18 points. He also did manage to pull off a jaw-dropping goal in the playoffs. Maybe he was practicing his fancy moves for Dancing on Ice?

Believe it or not, Lindgren wasn’t even supposed to be a defenseman! Can you imagine that? According to the New York Post, He showed up to high school tryouts in 2011 as a forward, but  Coach LaFontaine put him on the blue line. Best mistake ever, Coach. Lindgren’s defense was an instrumental part of Shattuck-St. Mary’s winning the 2014 Tier I Boys 18 and Under National Championship.

Lindgren then went to the USNTDP in Michigan, playing with Charlie McAvoy, Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller, and his current Rangers teammate Adam Fox. Captain Lindgren led the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team in 2016.
Then, in 2017, he helped the USA Junior team win gold at the World Juniors and grabbed a bronze a year later.

Lafonte’s mistake and Lindgren’s hard work have catapulted him onto the NHL path. And since he came to Broadway from the Boston Bruins in the Rick Nash trade in 2018 and made his NHL debut in 2019, he’s become Madison Square Garden’s rent-paying tenant, impressing everyone with blocked shots, bloodied faces, and the occasional goal that makes the crowd go wild.

That said, Lindgren’s injury history is longer than a Shakespeare play. His aggressive style of play has brought a myriad of injuries. It’s why he’s never played an entire regular season.

Lindgren’s contract will need some negotiation skills worthy of a diplomat. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent next Summer and has outplayed his current $3 million salary. He deserves increased pay and a long-term pact. However, would it be worth it for the Rangers to give in? Let’s not spoil the fun of talking about contracts now. We’ll save that for another day.

Rangers Report Cards: K’Andre Miller: B (B)

Miller skated his way through his entry-level contract, showing the world he’s worth more than a stack of puck-shaped pancakes.
The NHL’s salary cap played the party pooper, forcing him into a two-year bridge deal that’s not precisely splurging territory – a cool $7.744 million.

Miller’s a rising star among defensemen, no doubt about it. The 23-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota, racked up 43 points, and guess what? He pulled off a whopping 38 in 2022-23 when the teams played straight-up, even 5-on-5 hockey.

His defensive point share hit 4.7 like he’s some hockey wizard casting spells on the ice. And guess the only Ranger he trailed? No other than Fox, his teammate and probably his mentor in hockey sorcery.

Miller dished out a career-high 162 hits and blocked a career-high 105 shots. Yet some folks were grumbling about his “defense.” It makes sense, as he had a career-high 68 giveaways. However, let’s remember this guy’s still growing.

Miller had a hiccup at the end of the season, like when you’re skating along and hitting a rogue puck. And sure, his five-point February and the playoffs where he had one assist weren’t his finest hour either.

However, we need to consider those external factors. The Rangers’ zone exit strategy under head coach Gerard Gallant was as elusive as a puck in a snowstorm. There was only a little instruction unless you count the order of dump and chase. Maybe their strategy was to give the opponents a sudden puck fright?

Miller will begin the season on the second pair despite being the team’s best-left defenseman, even better than Lindgren. However, the card considers the entire season, so Miller doesn’t receive an A grade.

Rangers Report Cards: Niko Mikkola: B (Wasn’t on the team)

When the trade deadline rolled around, the Rangers had a big hole to fill in the right-wing positions in the top six, and their third-pairing defense on the left-hand side was another concern. Chris Drury swooped in like a trade wizard, snagging Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the Blues. Rangers fans rejoiced, and not just because they got Tarasenko!

Standing tall at 6-4 and 210 lbs, Mikkola might have believed that playing with the puck was optional in this physical sport. He’s the kind of guy who can change the momentum of a game just by his skating and hitting around the ice – he’s the Zamboni of defensemen.

Yet Mikkola wasn’t just a brawn show. He slipped into the top pairing like he’d been there since birth, making it seem like the Rangers were playing with an extra ace.

After the trade, Mikkola scored a goal and tossed out two assists during his 31 regular season games as a Ranger. He had a 1.6 Defensive Point Share with 38 blocks and 55 hits. That’s respectable, especially considering he brought the heat on the forecheck and was open to some good old-fashioned board battles.

The pairing of Mikkola and Braden Schneider was like that dynamic duo you’d see in a buddy cop movie, except their stats together weren’t exactly blockbuster material.

According to the wizards at Natural Stat Trick, when Mikkola and Schneider were in cahoots, their expected goals against per 60 minutes was a bit worse (3.08) than when they went solo (2.65). Even the New Jersey Devils probably had a good chuckle exploiting that in the playoffs.

Still, Mikkola was an upgrade over Ben Harpur, even if not by leaps and bounds. Maybe the tiny discrepancy was because of assistant coach Gord Murphy’s defensive strategy or their role for the third pair, but hey, the guy’s solid as a brick wall. And guess what? The Florida Panthers recognized that, too. They snatched him up in free agency, giving him a 3-year, $7.5 million deal. That’s some sweet validation right there.

Rangers Report Cards: Erik Gustafsson: B

Before we wrap up, let’s dive into the newest addition to the Rangers’ blue line!

So, we’re talking about Erik Gustafsson here. He made his way to the  Capitals as a free agent signing last offseason, and boy, did he make an impact. He showed his stuff in 61 games before his trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs, racking up seven goals and a whopping 31 assists, giving him a total of 38 points. Not to mention, he flexed his defensive skills with a 3.5 defensive points share.

Yet, the fun didn’t stop there. He was all about those assists after he was traded to the Leafs, notching up four just nine games before the playoffs. And guess what? He didn’t shy away from the big stage, scoring a goal and tallying two points during the postseason.

Moreover, Gustafsson indirectly pulled off a legendary feat by becoming the first player in NHL history to join a team at the trade deadline that he had previously scored a hat trick against. Yup, you heard that right. Gustafsson pulled off a hat trick for the ages against none other than the Maple Leafs themselves.

His hat trick also marked the first time a Capitals defenseman achieved this since Sergei Gonchar in 2002. Talk about making history!

In 61 games with Washington, Gustafsson owned the ice with a Corsi For percentage of 54.28 percent. He also rocked a 53.74% Expected Goals For and a 54.36% High Danger Chances For percentage. Yep, those stats are as impressive as they sound, courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, the 31-year-old defenseman inked a deal with the Blueshirts for a cool $825,000 over one year in July. He’s stepping in to replace  Mikola on the left side, and Rangers fans are excited to see what he brings to the team.