Lindgren, 26, is gearing up for his seventh NHL season with the Blueshirts.
Since joining New York, he’s become a key player on the top defensive pair. Averaging about 19 and a half minutes per game since 2020-21, Lindgren consistently scores between 15 to 20 points each season. Last season was tough for him and affected how long it took to finalize his contract.
At first glance, last year seemed typical for Lindgren: he had 17 points and a +22 rating in 76 games while averaging over 19 minutes per game. But advanced stats told another story . His relative CF% and xGF% were negative for the first time since his rookie year. The Rangers were out-attempted when he was on the ice at even strength, and his pairing with Fox only controlled 46.5% of expected goals—a drop from the previous year’s 54.6%.
Challenges Ahead:
Lindgren’s brother plays as a goalie for the Capitals, but this season is crucial for him to bounce back in his career. He’s on a one-year deal that leads straight to unrestricted free agency next summer.
Fans might wonder if this will be Lindgren’s comeback season.
With Lindgren signed, the Rangers have their full roster ready with $623K left in cap space according to PuckPedia. By trade deadline day, this could increase to around $2.8M in space. He’ll get another shot at playing alongside Fox on the top pair, aiming for better possession stats at even strength.
Last year, Lindgren was seventh on the team in hits (114) and fifth in blocks (103). Originally drafted by Boston Bruins in the second round of 2016 draft, he joined Rangers through a trade involving Rick Nash back in 2018.
What do you think? Will Lindgren shine this season?
