Avalanche new defensemen Ryan Lindgren is ready and “excited” for opportunity in Colorado
Mar 3, 2025, 9:48 AM
The Colorado Avalanche made a trade over the weekend with the New York Rangers, acquiring defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forward Jimmy Vesey and prospect Hank Kempf. While this isn’t the blockbuster that shocked the NHL world a few weeks ago when the Avalanche dealt away Mikko Rantanen, it is still an important move for a Colorado team looking for more depth heading into the home stretch of the season.
Lindgren is the marquee acquisition from this move, as the 27-year-old defenseman can be an asset to the Avs’ defense behind Cale Makar and Devon Toews. The Minnesota native brings a level of physicality that every team loves to have when the Stanley Cup Playoffs come around, and spoke with the media for the first time as a member of the Avalanche on Sunday.
“Obviously a lot of emotions go on, but you find out you’re coming to Colorado, and you know, what a great team they’ve got here. Meeting all of the guys, I’m just really excited to be here,” Lindgren said.
Lindgren and Vesey, who have built a great connection with each other during their time in New York, are happy about being on a Colorado team that has a grasp on one of the two Wild Card spots in the Western Conference playoff push as opposed to a Rangers team that will have to claw its way into the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Another benefit of being traded to the Avalanche is getting to play alongside Nathan MacKinnon, the 2024 Hart Memorial Trophy winner, and Makar, the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
“Obviously, [they’re] unbelievable players,” Lindgren said. “[I] played against them a couple times, but to be out there in practice and see how hard they work… They stay after practice and they’re always working on their games and that’s why they’re two of the best players in the world… [I’m] really excited to play with those two guys.”
On the flip side, getting traded then having to play a game two days later takes a lot of adjusting, and Lindgren knows that. From the altitude to learning Jared Bednar’s system, it’s not easy to turn around play a game in a different sweater in short timeframe.
Through the up-and-down season with the Rangers, Lindgren had struggled to find the form he had in years past, but the Avalanche hope that putting him in a lesser role will help him return to his form from a few seasons ago. He is currently slotted in as the Avs’ fourth defenseman, behind Sam Girard and right with Josh Manson.
Lindgren’s first action in an Avalanche sweater will be tomorrow night when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town. Puck drop at Ball Arena will be at 7:00 p.m. MT.
