4:25 PM: The Rangers have confirmed the signing according to a public announcement.
12:52 PM: The Rangers and defenseman Ryan Lindgren have reached an agreement prior to their arbitration hearing, which was scheduled for Aug. 2. It’s a one-year deal worth $4.5MM, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Lindgren, 26, will return to the Blueshirts for his seventh NHL season. In his time in New York thus far, the Minnesota-born blue liner has blossomed as a stay-at-home partner for Adam Fox on the team’s top pair. Lindgren’s averaged 19:34 per game since 2020-21, and his offense has remained consistent, providing between 15 and 20 points per campaign. However, he’s coming off a difficult season, one that likely impacted how long negotiations stretched out.
At first glance, last season seemed par for the course for Lindgren, who had 17 points and a +22 rating in 76 appearances while averaging 19:21 per night. But advanced metrics painted a much different story, as his relative CF% and xGF% dipped into the negatives for the first time since his rookie season. The Rangers were out-attempted 1,258-1,153 with Lindgren on the ice at even strength, and his pairing with Fox only controlled 46.5% of expected goals, per MoneyPuck. That figure is way down from 54.6% in 2022-23.
The younger brother of Capitals netminder Charlie Lindgren will try and redeem himself in a 2024-25 campaign that will be the most important of his career. That’s because a one-year pact walks him directly to unrestricted free agency next summer.
After signing Lindgren, the Rangers’ projected opening-night roster is at a full 23-player count with $623K in projected cap space, per PuckPedia. That prorates to about $2.8MM in space come trade deadline day. He’ll be given a chance to reprise his first-pairing role alongside Fox, hopefully with better possession play at even strength.
Last season, Lindgren finished seventh on the Rangers in hits (114) and fifth in blocks (103). Drafted by the Bruins in the second round in 2016, Lindgren was acquired in a 2018 deal that sent Rick Nash to Boston.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
I’m very happy they gave him one year as he’s a team leader and plays either more heart than any of the players in that locker room. Good deal here.
The metrics aren’t a friend of his, nor do they show the time he ‘stayed’ on the ice though injured in a game. While he didn’t have his best season last year, often he picks up the tough assignments, lays himself out for the team, and comes back in most cases when most others can’t. The $4.5M per is right in range, though some may feel he deserves more for being on the top line.
His game ans his body won’t allow a long-term contract. I think he is taking a chance with only a 1 yr contract though. Should have fought for a 2-3 yr deal at over $5M.
Proof that analytics are flawed. Watch Lindgren play and one thing you notice is that he rarely loses a puck battle along the boards. He takes alot of punishment in order to do that, but any team would love to have him.