The New York Rangers should consider trading Ryan Lindgren at some point this season. The 26-year-old defenseman has had a rough start and has already sustained his first injury of the year. With this being the final year of his contract, and many star players seeking extensions, the Rangers might struggle to re-sign him.
One fan on Puckpedia proposed a hypothetical trade sending Lindgren to the Los Angeles Kings, which, although speculative, has some merit. In this scenario, the Rangers would trade Lindgren and a third-round pick in 2026, receiving veteran defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov in return, with $1 million of his salary retained.
Like Lindgren, Gavrikov has not had an ideal beginning to the season. However, he offers more potential than Lindgren at this stage, being 28 and already a +7 through 13 games. Gavrikov’s main issue has been his slow offensive start, but this isn’t a pressing need for the Rangers right now.
If this trade were to happen, the Rangers would enhance their defensive lineup with a more reliable option than the injury-prone Lindgren. Gavrikov has significant potential, and a move to New York might spark a strong performance as they vie for the Stanley Cup.
