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The US National Team Development has a history of producing quality NHL Draft prospects on the blue line, and Ryan Lindgren continues that legacy. Its not the only legacy that Lindgren continues though, as his family is also building their own legacy in NCAA hockey. Ryan Lindgren is committed to attend the University of Minnesota next season. His brother Charlie Lindgren is a goalie who recently signed with the Montreal Canadiens after a successful college career with St. Cloud State. His father Bob Lindgren was a goaltender with the University of Michigan.
Lindgren had a solid season with the US NTDP, putting up six goals and 25 points in 61 games. He went on to the IIHF Under 18 World Championships where he had five points in seven games helping the American squad to a bronze medal. It wasn’t Lindgren’s first experience with international competition, as he won a silver medal at the 2015 Under 17 World Hockey Challenge. Lindgren also played in the 2015 All-American Top Prospects game last fall.
Ryan Lindgren Scouting Report: 2016 NHL Draft #54
Defense — shoots Left
Born Feb 11 1998 — Minneapolis, MN
Height 6’00” — Weight 196 lbs [183 cm / 89 kg]
Ryan Lindgren’s game is based around his mobility. He has a long and powerful stride that generates good speed in both directions, and solid acceleration. This stride and his strong lower body also gives him excellent balance on his skates. He uses this to protect the puck when its on his stick, as well as to get leverage in battling for loose pucks in the corners and in clearing the front of the net. Lindgren has good pivots, which allow him to smoothly transition from defence to offence and vice-versa. His agility is good, but he can continue to work on his footwork and improve this area of his game.
Lindgren is better known for his defensive game than his offence at this point. He has strong positioning, keeping himself between his man and the net. He reads the play well, and uses a quick stick to cut down passing lanes and create turnovers. Lindgren is not a huge hitter but he is physically involved in the corners and in front of the net, establishing leverage and using his strength and balance to its full advantage. He makes a good first pass out of the zone and gets the transition game going. He also has enough puckhandling ability to protect the puck while avoiding forecheckers.
Offensively, Lindgren has some ability, but it is a work in progress. He has a decent shot but doesn’t always use it to his full advantage. He also shows good passing ability, both in his own zone and at the point in the offensive end. He could stand to be a little more patient with the puck and wait for the offensive opportunities to present themselves though. Lindgren does not often look to lead the rush, but if the opportunity presents itself he is willing to join in as a trailer and shows off a good wrist shot if the puck is dropped back to him.
Lindgren has the potential to be a top four defenceman in the NHL. His offensive game did get better as the season went on, and he was at his best at the Under 18s, so there is some suggestion that there is untapped potential in that aspect of his game. In terms of a stylistic comparison, he is similar to Ryan McDonagh of the New York Rangers but this is a stylistic comparison only, and not one based on talent or potential.
The following is a compilation of Ryan Lindgren highlights, assembled from youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the #55 prospect on our NHL Draft Board.
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