Rangers Re-sign Lindberg
Jul 14, 2015New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Oscar Lindberg.
Lindberg, 23, skated in 75 games with the Wolf Pack this past season, registering 28 goals and 28 assists for 56 points, along with a plus-seven rating and 68 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in goals, assists, points, power play goals (10), plus/minus rating, and shots on goal (214), and tied AHL career-highs in games played and game-winning goals (six). Lindberg tied for eighth in the AHL in goals, ranked ninth in shots on goal, and tied for ninth in power play goals in 2014-15. In addition, he ranked second among European-born players in the AHL in goals and points.
Lindberg led the Wolf Pack in game-winning goals and shots on goal, ranked second in goals, assists, points, and power play goals, tied for second in games played, and ranked fifth in plus/minus rating. He registered a point in 16 of his final 19 regular season games with Hartford, tallying 20 points (12 goals, eight assists) over the span.
The 6-1, 195-pounder tallied 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) and posted a plus-one rating in 15 playoff games with Hartford in 2015. Lindberg tied for third in the AHL in assists and ranked ninth in the league in points during the playoffs. He tied for the team lead in assists, ranked second in points and shots on goal (40), tied for fourth in plus/minus rating, and tied for fifth in goals. Lindberg notched all 16 of his points in Hartford’s final 11 playoff games, and he recorded at least three points in three contests.
In addition, Lindberg skated in one game with the Rangers in 2014-15. He registered two shots on goal and was credited with three hits while making his NHL debut on Feb. 24 vs. Calgary.
Lindberg has skated in 150 career AHL games over two seasons, both with Hartford, registering 46 goals and 54 assists for 100 points, along with a plus-nine rating and 126 penalty minutes. He is the first European-born Rangers prospect who has recorded at least 100 points over a two-season span with Hartford since Artem Anisimov in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Including the playoffs, Lindberg has notched a point in 24 of his last 34 AHL contests and has tallied 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in those games.
Prior to beginning his professional career in North America, Lindberg played with Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). In his last season with Skelleftea in 2012-13, Lindberg tied for eighth in the league in points (42), tied for 11th in the league in goals (17), and ranked third among players who took at least 600 faceoffs in faceoff win percentage (56.9%; 495-for-870). In the playoffs, Lindberg tied for the league lead in points (12) and received the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy as SHL Playoff MVP while helping Skelleftea capture the SHL Championship.
Internationally, the Skelleftea, Sweden native has represented his country in several tournaments. Most recently, Lindberg helped Sweden capture a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Championship. In addition, he tallied four points (two goals, two assists) and posted a plus-three rating in six games while representing Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Lindberg was acquired from the Coyotes in exchange for Ethan Werek on May 8, 2011. He was originally selected by the Coyotes in the second round, 57th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.