After missing the first five games of the season due to an upper-body injury, Ryan Lindgren is set to make his return to the New York Rangers lineup on Tuesday as they face the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
The 26-year-old defenseman suffered his injury during a preseason fight with Scott Mayfield of the Islanders and will don a bubble mask upon his return.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette expressed excitement about Lindgren’s comeback, emphasizing his importance to the team. “He’s a heart and soul guy.
He plays hard every single shift, every game. You remove a guy like that from the lineup and you feel it. It’ll be nice to get him back in there,” Laviolette said.
Despite Lindgren’s absence, the Rangers have started the season strong with a 4-0-1 record, allowing just 10 goals—an average of two per game. However, six of those goals were conceded during a high-scoring 6-5 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.
In a surprise move, Lindgren will skate on the third defensive pair alongside rookie Victor Mancini against the Canadiens. Lindgren’s regular partner, Adam Fox, will continue to team up with K’Andre Miller, who filled in for Lindgren during his recovery.
Mancini, a promising 22-year-old, remains in the lineup, while Zac Jones and Chad Ruhwedel will be scratched for this matchup.
Looking ahead, the Rangers will need to make roster adjustments before their home game against the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Mancini is likely to be the player reassigned, as he does not require waivers.
However, he has shown significant potential, scoring his first NHL goal last week and impressing with his size and skating ability. Lindgren signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract this summer, and with upcoming salary cap considerations, his future with the Rangers may be uncertain.
In 333 games with the team, Lindgren has contributed 80 points and is known for his defensive prowess, including a remarkable number of blocked shots.
