Ryan Lindgren’s future with the Rangers is a topic not many want to discuss, but one that will creep into everyday discussions pretty quickly. The 25-year-old defenseman (26 in February) is entering the final year of his $3 million contract, and will be a restricted free agent next summer. Naturally, there is concern about his next contract, and there is no clear answer as to how his next contract will be managed, whether it’s a contract with Rangers or not.
The concern isn’t necessarily with Lindgren at the moment. He’s a solid defenseman on a team that has a strong blue line (on paper). Rangers obviously miss him when he’s not in the lineup. However it is often injured and will get very expensive. There are many instances in Rangers history – Dan Girardi, Mark Staal, Kevin Kline – where older players who played a similar style were re-signed and aged badly. It’s a lesson Rangers better learn quickly.
There aren’t many options when it comes to Ryan Lindgren’s future, and most proposals are usually grouped into three categories:
- Re-sign it at any cost
- Trade it before it gets ugly
- Wait and see
A case for Lindgren’s re-signing
It’s not really hard to build a case for the Rangers to re-sign Lindgren. After all, he’s an excellent defensive lineman on a team that has a very strong defensive lineup. More organization, growth and consistent play without him would make the bottom four look better, but for now Lindgren is one half of the Rangers’ best defensive pair.
Lindgren is exactly what you’d expect him to be – a complete outfielder, less offensive tackle, and a great complement to Adam Fox. There are some aspects to his offensive game that should not be overlooked, namely how his GF/60 and GAR numbers vastly outpace those of xGF and xGAR, but this is likely a product of Rangers’ higher skill, and less possession of the game in period the last few seasons.
Lindgren is a one-dimensional defenseman, which is a good thing. He has a role and plays it exceptionally well. It’s funny how people will say that one-dimensional defense – first players are good but one-dimensional offensive players aren’t, but I digress.
In the evolution of hockey, if the Rangers were to re-sign Lindgren during next season, he would come in 3-4 years with a max $3.75 million. It’s too early for these estimates to be gospel, of course, and it already seems odd that it only came in at $750,000. Something seems off, and I’m more inclined to believe Lindgren could potentially be closer to $5 million, depends on the cap.
If he wants 3-4 years and is okay with less than $4 million, Ryan Lindgren’s future in New York is secure through the next decade. This is the only scenario that becomes hoax evidence. But again, this seems unlikely.
Trade it before it gets ugly
Before jumping to conclusions, this just assumes a good enough package to keep Lindgren away from the Rangers he presents himself with. The general premise is that it is better to trade a player a year early than a year late. A year later, So Close to You is Mika Zibanijad in Derek Brassard’s movie. A year later, I attached a draft selection to a contract transfer.
It’s possible that Ryan Lindgren’s future has no imminent trade. There aren’t many situations where the Rangers look to get rid of Lindgren and Barclay Goodrow, and the latter is the most likely to get into any payroll disposal scenario. Having said that, and this takes a leap of faith in Peter Laviolette and his coaching staff, Lindgren’s on-ice mapping skill is replaceable. If Matthew Robertson and Zac Jones both impress at camp, and Candre Miller gets locked up, Lindgren becomes the odd man out.
Given Lindgren’s injury history and how vulnerable players are with the age of his style, it could be a good idea to explore deals this season and next. If there’s an offer Rangers can’t refuse, so be it. Remember, Lindgren is probably the only tradeable asset in the Rangers roster who can get them a cost-controlled top-six right winger with a term, something they desperately need.
Ryan Lindgren’s future is all about wait and see
The salary cap will play an important role in Rian Lindgren’s future with the Rangers. Chris Drury is also incredibly methodical, so he won’t rush into a decision until he has all the information. If Ryan Lindgren’s future is with the Rangers, at least through his next contract, it will be determined by his salary cap cap.
Lindgren’s contract requirements will also play a role here. We assume he will accept a 4-year period, bringing his age to 30, but what if he pays for 7 or 8 years? How much risk will the Rangers be willing to accept?
While Ryan Lindgren’s future with Rangers isn’t clear at the moment, we’ll get some level of clarity over the next few months and into next season. may cost the same. He may take a discount in his home country. Or it may simply come at market value with an increased salary cap.