Three players the New York Rangers could move before the deadline to create cap space
By Conor Power
![Nov 22, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) moves the Nov 22, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) moves the](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4800,h_2700,x_0,y_150/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/100/01hkatr3y5vd0g4freqc.jpg)
Ryan Lindgren
You might be looking at this completely bemused, and I agree this one is probably the most unlikely to move. However, there are a few reasons where moving Ryan Lindgren actually makes sense. I promise you, I'm not completely insane, and there is a method to my madness. I've not completely lost my mind yet, although after the Hurricanes game, it might be going soon.
Lindgren has been a defensive stalwart for the Rangers over the years, and he's partnered Adam Fox for all but the ten games Fox was hurt. But he's struggled a lot more this season than usual. In 35 games, Lindgren has all of two goals and four assists for six points. Playing alongside Adam Fox, you would expect that production to be much higher for the $3 million he makes against the salary cap, so it is concerning. It's a reason to be a little worried about the Burnsville, Minnesota native,
You could argue Lindgren isn't someone that should be producing points. He's a defensive defenseman after all. I'd listen to that argument, if he wasn't on pace to set a new high in penalty minutes, shot attempts against, as well as enduring his worst shot attempts for percentage of his career. He's having a down year, and you can see it when you watch the games as well as when you look at the stats.
Now, a down year Ryan Lindgren is still a very good defenseman. But he's also an RFA at the end of the year with arbitration eligibility. That has the potential to get very ugly if the player and team don't agree. This is not me saying that Lindgren should be moved before the deadline. However, if there was a defensive reinforcement coming in, Schneider, Jones and Gustafsson don't make enough to mean anything. Trouba has a no-move clause. Fox isn't going anywhere, and Miller's better than Lindgren right now,