Zeb Lindgren

Zeb Lindgren
Born (2007-04-14) 14 April 2007 (age 19)
Umeå, Sweden
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Defenceman
Shoots Left
SHL team Skellefteå AIK
NHL draft 139th overall, 2025
New York Rangers
Playing career 2024–present

Zeb Lindgren (born 14 April 2007) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 139th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life

Lindgren was born on 14 April 2007 in Umeå, Sweden. He began his youth hockey development playing within his hometown club, IF Björklöven, appearing for their U16 division 1 squad during the 2020–21 season. He later moved into the competitive junior pipeline of SHL organization Skellefteå AIK.

Playing career

Junior

Lindgren advanced to Skellefteå AIK's under-20 program, becoming a regular top-pairing blue-liner on their J20 Nationell roster. During the 2024–25 season, he recorded four goals and 15 assists for 19 points across 38 regular-season games. His structural play caught the attention of regional talent evaluators; independent tracking metrics highlighted him as one of the most positionally sound defensive prospects in the J20 league, noting that he averaged 1.35 blocked shots per game and 0.86 loose-puck recoveries following shots.

Professional

Heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau listed Lindgren ranked 20th overall among all European skaters. On 28 June 2025, he was selected in the fifth round, 139th overall, by the New York Rangers. Following his draft year, Lindgren integrated further into Skellefteå AIK's senior professional operations, receiving call-ups to the premier SHL level and appearing in 5 games for the senior team during the 2024–25 league calendar.

Player profile

Scouting profiles define Lindgren as a highly mobile, high-IQ defensive defenseman who prioritizes low-risk puck distribution. Independent analysis highlights his skating posture and the power generated from his strides as his definitive developmental calling card. Analysts praise his excellent gap control, rush containment, and strength along the boards, identifying him as a potential bottom-four NHL asset built for penalty-kill situations. Because of his positional discipline and sound coverage within his own zone, initial draft evaluations compared his play style to former longtime NHL and Rangers defenseman Anton Strålman.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2023–24 Skellefteå AIK J20 222248 80110
2024–25 Skellefteå AIK J20 384151976 90118
2024–25 Skellefteå AIK SHL 50000 —————
2025–26 Skellefteå AIK J20 366131926 —————
2025–26 Skellefteå AIK SHL 20000 —————
SHL totals 70000 —————

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2024 Sweden HG18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 0 1 1 6
Junior totals 5 0 1 1 6

References

  1. 1 2 "Zeb Lindgren Stats and News". NHL.com. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Zeb Lindgren". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Knapp, Andy (28 June 2025). "Rangers select gifted mobile puck-moving defenseman at No. 139 overall during 2025 NHL Draft". Blue Line Station. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Sievila, Alex (23 May 2025). "Zeb Lindgren – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "J20 Nationell: Zeb Lindgren". Neutral Zone. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  6. 1 2 Fortunato, Alex (28 June 2025). "2025 NHL Draft: Rangers select defenseman Zeb Lindgren with 5th round pick". Blue Seat Blogs. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Rangers 2025 NHL Draft: Every pick from Saturday's rounds". SNY. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2026.