The New York Rangers already have a group of impressive young defenders, but add one name to the list. Nils Lundkvist has agreed to terms on his three-year entry-level contract. The 2018 first-round pick recently finished his fourth season with Lulea HF of the SHL and is with Sweden at the World Championship.
Lundkvist, 20, put up 32 points in 52 games this season, including 14 goals to lead all SHL defensemen. That impressive offensive output, when added to improving defensive play and excellent puck-moving ability landed him the league’s Defenseman of the Year award. All the accolades in the world don’t make Lundkvist a sure-fire NHL talent, but the 28th overall pick from 2018 has done nothing to indicate that he won’t quickly adapt to the North American game and be a difference-maker for the Rangers.
He’ll join a group that already includes Adam Fox (23), Ryan Lindgren (23), K’Andre Miller (21), and Zachary Jones (20) that are all under contract for next season, not to mention other young talents like Libor Hajek and Tarmo Reunanen. Matthew Robertson and Braden Schneider, two other high picks are signed and in the organization, while 27-year-old Jacob Trouba is still signed for another five years. It’s pretty impressive stuff from the Rangers, who despite missing the playoffs this season still have a very bright future.
Not only is Lundkvist an exceptional offensive talent, but he’s also right-handed, giving the team a little more balance among that young group. New GM Chris Drury can now decide whether or not to bring him along in the NHL next season or play it more slowly, giving him a chance to get his feet wet in the minor leagues. Of course, there may be other drastic changes that the new front office implements, meaning that decision certainly doesn’t have to be made today.
Any relation to Henrik?
Different spelling.
you kidding right??
If he was in this years draft he would be a top five pick
It’s just keeps getting better. And here we dismissed the management team responsible for building the talent and depth they’re going to have for years.
Orrrr, We dismiss the management team responsible for creating one of the physically and mentally weakest teams in the NHL.
You realize they are all kids. Youngest team in the NHL by a full year. Patience. Something the idiot owner Dolan doesn’t understand.
I believe he only signed if Rangers promised not to use him in trade right away. So he’s going nowhere. I’m worried that that we will trade Schneider or Robertson or Jones. I even like Skinner too. Use Hajek and Reunanen as trade bait along with Howden, Gauthier, Ronning, and Rooney. Keep Barron and sign Coleman and Martinook.
Schneider, Robertson, and Lundkvist will be building blocks and they will do everything possible to hold onto them. Zac Jones, Hajek, and Reunanen will all be made available if I had to guess. Zac Jones has very good upside but I think Lundkvist is a few notches above plus we are loaded on D. We need a bottom 6 center that can win a face off and a top 6 center that can win a face off. We need physicality. We have some chips to get those players including Chityl, Gauthier, Blackwell, Rooney, Barron.
LOL, patience? 1994? Isnt that enough patience.
They need a winning head coach, gritty players, number one center! Im done with patience.
You just described 1995-2018.