The Seattle Kraken have made a significant addition to their defensive corps, signing defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.5 million. The deal, worth a total of $18 million, was announced on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, marking the Kraken's first major move in the 2025 NHL free agency period.
Lindgren, 27, is known as a "heart-and-soul player" who brings competitiveness and grit to every shift. Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill praised Lindgren's commitment to winning and highlighted his importance as a penalty killer throughout his career. "He does whatever it takes to win and has been a key fixture on the penalty kill throughout his career. We're excited to welcome him to the team,” said Botterill. New coach Lane Lambert is also familiar with Lindgren's competiveness, grit, and special teams skills.
Lindgren is a defensive-minded defenseman who has consistently averaged over 19 minutes per night. While he may not contribute significantly on offense, he is valued for his shutdown capabilities and shot-blocking. Throughout his NHL career, Lindgren has played in 405 games, recording 14 goals and 102 points with the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche.
Prior to joining the Kraken, Lindgren split the 2024-25 season between the Rangers and the Avalanche. He was traded to Colorado on March 1, along with Jimmy Vesey and Hank Kempf, in exchange for Calvin de Haan, Juuso Parssinen, and two draft picks. In 72 games played last season, he tallied 22 points (four goals, 18 assists), including three points (two goals, one assist) in 18 games with the Avalanche. He also contributed three assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games for Colorado.
Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round (49th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Lindgren's journey to the Kraken involved a trade to the New York Rangers in February 2018. He quickly became a mainstay on the Rangers' blue line, often paired with Adam Fox, before being traded to the Avalanche.
With the addition of Lindgren, the Kraken's defensive depth has significantly improved. However, the team already has a number of left-shot defensemen, including Vince Dunn, Jamie Oleksiak, Ryker Evans, and Josh Mahura. This may lead to the Kraken exploring trade options to balance their roster. It is speculated that the Kraken may consider trading Oleksiak to free up space on the blue line.
Some analysts predict Lindgren's role in Seattle will be more focused on shutdown and penalty-killing situations, with potentially reduced ice time compared to his previous roles. Overall, the signing of Lindgren is viewed as a positive move for the Kraken, solidifying their defense and adding a valuable asset with playoff experience.
