Poor Detroit and New York, two teams that had high expectations at the start of the season, have unexpectedly fallen out of the playoff race. Could a trade resolve their problems?
It has become quite clear that New York Rangers GM Chris Drury is likely to be a seller as the March 7 trade deadline approaches.
Following the recent trades of captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks and winger Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken, another player who might be on the move from New York is defenseman Ryan Lindgren. As highlighted by Remy Mastey of The Hockey News, citing Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff, Lindgren could be a good fit for the Detroit Red Wings, who are looking to strengthen their defense under new head coach Todd McLellan as they strive for a playoff spot.
“I’m curious about Detroit. But is he really a significant improvement? That’s the question I have,” Seravalli remarked. “I’m also uncertain about how much the Red Wings are willing to spend.” With the possibility of becoming an unrestricted free agent after this season, Lindgren’s future in New York appears uncertain, placing him in the spotlight of trade discussions.
Currently, the Rangers find themselves outside the playoff wildcard race, and unless they experience a significant turnaround, Drury may continue pursuing future-focused trades.
This season, Lindgren has tallied two goals, eight assists, and 10 points over 37 games, averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game with a -4 rating. His affordable contract and dependability might make him an attractive target for Detroit.
Unless the Rangers manage to turn their season around, it’s anticipated that Drury will be active in trading players, with Lindgren likely being one of those moved.
