With their fifth round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers selected defenseman Zeb Lindgren out of Sweden. The 6’2, 198 lb defenseman finished up his first full season with Skelleftea’s J20 team in Sweden, putting up a line of 4-15-19 in 38 games. Lindgren is a fine pick at this point in the draft, though he lacks offensive upside. But defensemen in Sweden are built and trained different, and they are almost always solid two-way players who move the puck, regardless of gaudy offensive numbers.
Zeb Lindgren projects as a bottom four defenseman, which is a solid ceiling in the fifth round. Lindgren is a very smart player, keeping things simple in all three zones. He’s not flashy, he just gets things done. Think Anton Stralman with the Rangers, before his time with Tampa. He’s not going to put up massive points, but he’s another low event defenseman who’s just overall solid all around.
