Rangers Ryan Lindgren brings character and toughness

He will battle for a spot in training camp

9/2/2018, 3:43 PM
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Brady Skjei described fellow University of Minnesota defenseman Ryan Lindgren as a "character player" and someone that can shut down the other team's top line. (NYR)

Chris Drury said that the Rangers view Lindgren as someone who can help set "the right culture" for the team moving forward. (The Athletic)

Lindgren is considered to be more of a "throwback" type of shutdown defenseman and Chris Drury said that he was someone the Rangers wanted from Boston because of his character, leadership and compete levels. (The Athletic)

Lindgren skates well, move the puck "competently" and is a "great defender who battles at a high-end level." (The Athletic)

Lindgren said that all he wants to do is play his game in training camp and play the way that got him to this point in his career. (NYR)

He said that he learned a lot in his brief time in Hartford and that when he comes to training camp he will be around some familiar faces. (NYR)

Bob Motzko, who coached St. Cloud St as well as Lindgren in the World Juniors, said that Lindgren is just such a battler, he'll just dust it off and go play." (The Athletic)

Mike Guentzel, who was a coach at Minnesota, said that Lindgren is "heart, character" and a kind of toughness that doens't always come with players from the Minnesota area. (The Athletic)

Former Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said that Lindgren played the "heavy minutes" against top players, on the PK and in late game situations. (The Athletic)

Lucia added, "the respect he has in the locker room is evident when you've been elected as a captain and you're 19 years old."(The Athletic)

In describing his own game, Lindgren said "I try to be as physical as I can. I've got to find a balance, but my physicality and the way I play is never going to be taken out of me. That's how I play, and that's what I'm going to do. It's just finding a balance between it and being smart about it, but I'm going to be that player that is tough to play against and is mean." (The Athletic)

Adam Rotter: Everything that you read and hear about Lindgren just screams "Dan Girardi." His last couple of years may have been a struggle at times, but Girardi was an enormous part of the Rangers from the first day he got called up. He blocked shots, played physical, scored on occasion, was widely respected and should have won a Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award or two. Lindgren doesn't project out to be a big-time offensive player and while scoring is important, stopping the other team from scoring is just as important. He looks like someone that could be a big part of the Rangers defense in the future and carry on many of the great aspects Girardi brought for so many years.


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