NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers hits Logan Stankoven #11 of the Dallas Stars during the first period at Madison Square Garden on January 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Seattle Kraken signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Ryan Lindgren on Tuesday, hours after the start of free agency in the National Hockey League, to a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually.
In what’s been forecasted by him as an aggressive summer with roster turnover, Kraken general manager Jason Botterill added a well-established, left-shot blueliner with the signing, well-known for an abrasive and physical style of play that could in theory complement a more offensively loaded defenseman in Brandon Montour.
“Ryan’s a heart-and-soul player who competes every shift,” said Botterill in a team statement. "He does whatever it takes to win and has been a key fixture on the penalty kill throughout his career.”
It’s pretty apparent the Kraken are buying on those elements to address a desired shift to amplify a rugged approach.
“Compete is off the charts,” one league scout told 93.3 KJR-FM by text message on Lindgren.
“Solid (penalty killer), shot blocker, tenacious with everything and anything he does.”
Lindgren, 27, was acquired close to the trade deadline from the New York Rangers, where he spent his first five full seasons, by the Colorado Avalanche and managed two goals and three points in 18 games, along with three assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games following the trade – managing a career-high but modest 22 points in 72 combined games.
A former defensive pair mainstay on the Rangers as the left shot, stay-at-home guardian for Adam Fox, his health has taken a toll, missing the start of last season with a jaw injury after fighting Scott Mayfield of the New York Islanders. He missed 19 games two seasons ago with various upper and lower body injuries. His career high is 78 games, set four seasons ago where he amassed 15 points.
The Kraken, operating with $13 million in cap space after the Lindgren signing, are now faced with a logjam at the moment on their defensive corps, counting Lindgren, Vince Dunn, Jamie Oleksiak, restricted free agent Ryker Evans, and the recently extended Josh Mahura.