So let’s check in with stalwart “defensive defenseman” Ryan Lindgren about whether there is actually such a thing as a “defensive defenseman” in head coach Peter Laviolette’s system.
“Doesn’t seem like it, the way he talks he wants all five guys getting up there, when you’re in the O-zone he wants all five guys moving,” No. 55 told The Post folowing Tuesday’s normal-length training camp session. “He doesn’t want the D to sit back and not get involved and that’s good. It should be fun.”
There has been all sorts of focus on the system being introduced by Laviolette, who by the way said that, yes, “Absolutely,” his coaching vocabulary includes the term, “defensive defenseman.”
“Recently, teams that I’ve coached have had some really good defensive defenseman,” the coach said. “I think it’s really important where you see things or you have certain players on your team, we always talk about defense first and making sure that you’re doing the right things.
“I just think that in order to be successful you have to play good defense. You want to score goals, you want to score as many as you can, but you don’t want to have to score six because you gave up five. So defensive defensemen are definitely part of it.”
Lindgren, who has a sum of 63 points (7-56) over his four NHL seasons, knows his primary responsibility. But this new approach being shepherded by Laviolette and associate coach Phil Housley, an offense-minded defenseman whose plaque hangs in the Hockey Hall of Fame, should only expand the Minnesota native’s repertoire.
“I know I’m looked more as a defender but I do have those capabilities where I can jump in and get involved,” said Lindgren, who on Tuesday skated on Braden Schneider’s left side. “I think it will be good for me. It will encourage me to get up there more and provide more offensively, but not forgetting about the defensive side.
“That’s what I’m good at. You have to make sure to balance those things.”
The blue-line core remains youthful, but at the same time is a veteran group. Lindgren, Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba are entering their fifth seasons as Rangers. K’Andre Miller is somehow already going into Year 4. Schneider has been a staple since joining the big club in January 2022. Trouba, 29, is the only member of the group that is older than 25.
The back line (and goaltender Igor Shesterkin) could well become the backbone of this team.
“We’ve been together for a while now and are comfortable together,” said the 25-year-old Lindgren. “We have a lot of good players back there and I think, with our goaltending, defense is definitely a strength for us.”
The Rangers are learning a neutral-zone left-wing lock system that is likely going to take some time to master, by forwards and defensemen alike. When asked about his D-unit, Laviolette stressed that defense is a five-man responsibility. The lock, though, can be counterintuitive.
“Especially on the left, we’re supposed to be up there more and that definitely felt a little weird the first few times we’ve done it, especially in the games,” Lindgren said. “[Laviolette] wants us to be aggressive at that blue line, wants us jumping people and creating turnovers.
“That’s obviously a little different from what we’ve done the last couple of years where we were more back. Playing against [Laviolette’s Capitals], they were really good at it, causing a lot of turnovers against us, I think it’ll be good.”
Lindgren said he has had a steady dialogue with Housley, who is the fourth assistant/associate running the defense in the Steven McDonald Award winner’s tenure on Broadway following Lindy Ruff, Jacques Martin and Gord Murphy.
“He’s talked to me about the offensive end of it, making sure I’m comfortable with getting up there more and about the concept of having all five guys involved,” Lindgren said. “We’ve had different conversations about the neutral zone.
“In the D-zone, especially, he stresses closing quickly, two-on-one’s he talks about being more aggressive on the guy with the puck. There’s an emphasis on stick-on-puck. There’s a lot of communication.”
Said the “defensive defenseman.”