Rangers Agree to Terms with Ryan Lindgren
NEW YORK, May 10, 2021 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Ryan Lindgren on a three-year contract.
Lindgren, 23, skated in 51 games with the Rangers this season, registering one goal and 15 assists for 16 points, along with a plus-20 rating and 35 penalty minutes. He received the Players’ Player Award in 2020-21, which is given annually to the Ranger who, as selected by his teammates, “best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.” Lindgren established career-highs in several categories in 2020-21, including assists, points, plus/minus rating, and hits (98), and he led the team in plus/minus rating this season. He was one of only three Rangers who recorded 90 or more hits and 50 or more blocked shots this season. At the time he suffered an upper-body injury on Apr. 29, Lindgren was one of only four Rangers (and the only defenseman) who played in each of the team’s first 51 games of the 2020-21 season. He ranked second on the Rangers in average shorthanded ice time this season (2:30), and he currently ranks fifth in the NHL (min. 115:00 of shorthanded ice time) in power play goals against per 60 minutes of shorthanded ice time in 2020-21 (4.22). Lindgren was not on the ice for a power play goal against in 20 consecutive games from Jan. 24 at Pittsburgh to Mar. 9 at Pittsburgh (51:30 of shorthanded ice time over the span).
The 6-0, 191-pounder has skated in 116 career NHL games over parts of three seasons (2018-19 – 2020-21), all with the Rangers, registering two goals and 28 assists for 30 points, along with a plus-30 rating and 90 penalty minutes. Since the start of his first full season in the NHL in 2019-20, Lindgren is tied for first among NHL defensemen in penalties drawn (42). In addition, his plus-36 rating since the start of the 2019-20 season is currently the ninth-best among NHL defensemen over the span.
Internationally, the Burnsville, Minnesota native has represented the United States in several tournaments. Lindgren helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, and a bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship, and he was teammates with current Rangers teammate Adam Fox in each tournament. He served as one of the United States’ alternate captains during the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, as well as the United States’ captain during the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship and during the 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Lindgren was acquired by the Rangers from Boston on February 25, 2018. He was selected by the Bruins in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.