In his first move since becoming the Rangers General Manager, Chris Drury got his first contract out of the way by signing Ryan Lindgren to a three year contract extension. The 23 year old defender has emerged as a top-pair defenseman for the Rangers, having formed a bond with his former US juniior team mate, Adam Fox.
Acquired at the February 2018 NHL trade deadline as part of the Rick Nash trade, Lindgren the 2015 second round pick of the Boston Bruins still had a lot to prove. His skating was thought to be below NHL averaged, and there were questions about whether he’d be able to even be an NHL regular.
A five game cameo as the depleted Rangers finished out the season following a deadline purge, barely hinted at what he has grown into. Over the next two years he broke into the line-up, playing 60 games in his rookie season last year, and following that up this year with career marks in assists (15), points (16) and plus/minus (+20).
Not shown in his statistical record is what Lindgren also brings to the team, and that’s the physical side of his game. It’s not uncommon to see Minnesota native bloodied and bruised, but perhaps surprisingly, he has missed very few shifts, let alone games.
Voted by his team mates as the player’s player, Lindgren is obviously a big part of the Rangers at this point, and was a noticeable absence following the collision with the Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck and the glass alongside the Rangers’ bench. During exit interviews, he did say he feels much better, and it appears at this point that there will be no lasting issues.
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