$4.5M worth Ryan Lindgren gets candid about his Rangers future after avoiding arbitration

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Aug 01, 2024 15:18 GMT

Ryan Lindgren signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers for $4.5 million. He avoided arbitration by agreeing to the deal on Tuesday. Lindgren was previously a restricted free agent.

At Da Beauty League, Lindgren expressed excitement about staying in New York.

“Real happy to get it done before (arbitration),” he said. “I love being in New York, so I’m really excited to get back there. It’s a great city, it’s a great team, so I’m really excited for next year.”

Lindgren reflected on the Rangers' last season, noting their Eastern Conference Final appearance. He acknowledged the difficulty of advancing in the playoffs, even with a strong regular season.

“It seems like we’re right there, The Eastern Conference Final last year we came up short, we lost to a really good Florida team, but we were right there with them," Lindgren said. "You just realize how hard it is. It’s a grind to get to that point. We had a real good regular season but that doesn’t mean much when you go into the playoffs."

“But we got a real good team. We added some real good players and I know guys were hungry going into the offseason, so real excited to get back at it.”

Entering the final year of his current contract, Lindgren expressed his wish to stay in New York long-term.

“I just try not to think about it as much you can,” Lindgren said. “Just go out there, play and have fun. If the team is successful, then you’re going to be successful. That’s all that really matters."

"But I want to be in New York. That’s all I’ve known for the past six years now. I love being there. I want to be there as long as I can.”

Lindgren played 76 games last season, scoring 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) and blocking 103 shots. In the playoffs, he had three assists in 16 games. The Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Final but lost to the Florida Panthers in six games.

Jacob Trouba stays with Rangers amid trade rumors

Jacob Trouba's offseason has been busy with trade rumors and a new art gallery. The New York Rangers considered trading him to clear salary-cap space, but he stayed with the team. Trouba is happy with how general manager Chris Drury communicated during this time.

“Yeah, they were great the whole time,” Trouba said (via nytimes.com). “Even going back years prior, me and Dru have always had a good relationship. We can speak to each other when we want to. He has a lot of trust in me, I think, and I’m grateful for that. We’re excited to get started this year.”

Trouba's contract includes a 15-team no-trade list. He submitted this list at the deadline, which may have complicated trade discussions. Despite this, he is excited about the upcoming season.