Ryan Lindgren Bio
Ryan Lindgren is an American professional ice hockey player born on February 11, 1998, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a defenseman currently playing for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Known for his physical, defense-first approach, Lindgren has built his career around shot blocking, penalty killing, and steady play in his own zone.
Selected 49th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Lindgren has spent his professional career with the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle Kraken. He has represented the United States at multiple international tournaments, including a gold medal at the 2017 World Junior Championships.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Lindgren was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he grew up surrounded by hockey culture. His hometown has long produced competitive players, and Lindgren developed his game on local rinks from a young age.
He came from an athletic family, and his brother, Charlie Lindgren, also pursued a professional hockey career as a goaltender, currently playing for the Washington Capitals. The two brothers remain closely connected within the sport.
Before turning professional, Lindgren was committed to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota. He ultimately chose to forgo his junior and senior collegiate seasons in order to begin his professional career in the American Hockey League and eventually the NHL.
Path to Hockey
Lindgren’s path to professional hockey began through the United States National Team Development Program, where he emerged as a dependable two-way defenseman. His steady play earned him international opportunities at a young age, including captaining the United States at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2016 World U-18 Championships, where his team finished third.
In 2017, Lindgren was part of the United States team that won gold at the World Junior Championships, contributing one assist in seven games. The following year, he served as an alternate captain on the bronze-winning U.S. squad at the 2018 World Junior Championships.
His international pedigree, combined with his responsible defensive play, made him an attractive prospect. The Boston Bruins selected him 49th overall in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, a pick originally acquired in exchange for Johnny Boychuk.
Ryan Lindgren Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
On February 25, 2018, the New York Rangers acquired Lindgren, along with a 2018 first-round pick, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, and a 2019 seventh-round pick, from the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Rick Nash. Lindgren signed his contract with the Rangers on March 22, 2018, and joined their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on an amateur tryout the following day, skipping his remaining college eligibility at the University of Minnesota.
After spending the first half of the 2018–19 season in Hartford, Lindgren was called up by the Rangers for their January 15, 2019, game against the Carolina Hurricanes. He appeared in three NHL games before being returned to the Wolf Pack on January 19, 2019.
New York Rangers Breakthrough (2019–2025)
Lindgren gradually became a fixture on the Rangers’ blue line, earning a reputation for his physical presence and penalty killing. On May 10, 2021, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Rangers, signaling his growing role within the organization.
During the 2022–23 season, Lindgren recorded a career-high 17 assists and 18 points in 63 games while posting a team-leading plus-29 rating. He blocked 91 shots, the fifth most on the Rangers, and averaged 2:06 minutes of short-handed time on ice per game, the second highest on the team. On November 30, 2022, against the Ottawa Senators, he registered a career-high three-assist game, joining Adam Fox, Ryan McDonagh, Neal Pionk, and Brady Skjei as the only Rangers defensemen with such a performance since the 2015–16 season.
On April 10, 2023, Lindgren received the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, an honor presented annually to the Rangers player who best exemplifies going above and beyond the call of duty, both on the ice and in the community. On July 30, 2024, the Rangers re-signed him to a one-year, $4.5 million contract extension to avoid salary arbitration.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2025)
On March 1, 2025, the New York Rangers traded Lindgren, along with Jimmy Vesey and prospect Hank Kempf, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Calvin de Haan, Juuso Pärssinen, and two conditional 2025 draft picks. His short stint in Colorado added another contending franchise to his résumé.
Seattle Kraken Era (2025–Present)
Following the conclusion of his contract with the Colorado Avalanche, Lindgren signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Seattle Kraken as a free agent on July 1, 2025. The deal runs through the 2028–29 season.
His move to Seattle marked a fresh chapter, giving the Kraken an experienced, defensive-minded blueliner known for his shot blocking and leadership qualities.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lindgren is widely regarded as a defensive defenseman who plays a physical, stay-at-home style. His strengths include shot blocking, penalty killing, and reliable even-strength defense. He thrives in high-pressure matchups and is trusted to log significant short-handed minutes against opposing top forwards.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Lindgren’s gold medal at the 2017 World Junior Championships and his 2023 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award stand out. His career-high three-assist performance against the Ottawa Senators in November 2022 and his steady plus-29 rating during the 2022–23 season further highlighted his two-way value.
Ryan Lindgren Career Wins
Across his professional career, Ryan Lindgren has been valued more for his defensive contributions than for offensive production. While individual scoring totals are not the focus of his role, his career-high 18 points in 2022–23 underscored his growth as a two-way contributor.
New York Rangers Highlights
Lindgren spent the bulk of his NHL career with the New York Rangers from 2018 to 2025, becoming a staple of their defense corps. His standout 2022–23 campaign and the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2023 reflected both his on-ice reliability and his community impact.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Lindgren captained the United States at the 2016 World U-18 Championships, helping his team to a bronze medal, and won gold with the U.S. junior squad at the 2017 World Junior Championships. He later added a bronze at the 2018 World Junior Championships as an alternate captain.
Ryan Lindgren Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ryan Lindgren comes from a hockey family, with his brother Charlie Lindgren also pursuing a career in the NHL. The siblings share a bond rooted in the sport and continue to support each other’s professional paths.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Lindgren is recognized for his community involvement, a quality highlighted by his receipt of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2023. He remains connected to his Minnesota roots and his family throughout his professional journey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year brought significant movement for Ryan Lindgren. After years anchoring the New York Rangers’ defense, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on March 1, 2025, joining a contending team for the stretch run of the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Following the conclusion of his time with the Avalanche, Lindgren entered free agency and signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Seattle Kraken on July 1, 2025. The deal positioned him as a key veteran presence on a young Kraken blue line looking to take the next step in the Western Conference.
Entering the 2025–26 season, Lindgren is expected to provide the Kraken with steady defensive play, shot-blocking reliability, and short-handed expertise. His leadership and playoff experience from prior postseason runs make him a valuable addition as Seattle continues building toward sustained competitiveness.
