Ex-Rangers defenseman ejected from game at Worlds for illegal check to head
Ryan Lindgren has a well-earned reputation in the NHL as tough, rugged, physical defenseman. However, the former New York Rangers top-pair stalwart also is widely respected for what he is not, specifically not being a dirty player.
But Lindgren landed himself in hot water Thursday at the IIHF World Championship. Playing for the United States, Lindgren received a five-minute major and game misconduct for leveling Evan Bouchard of Canada with an illegal check to the head.
The incident occurred 6:12 into the first period. Bouchard raced into the offensive zone, and Lindgren jumped a bit to deliver a massive check against the Edmonton Oilers’ star defenseman. Bouchard went down hard and appeared to be out cold for a bit before leaving the game.
Officials reviewed the hit on video, and Lindgren argued with them leaving the ice after the verdict was rendered against him, By NHL standards, there’s a chance Lindgren would not have been handed a game misconduct if this were an NHL game. But the IIHF is very clear in its directive to heavily penalize any check to the head, whether deemed intentional or not.
Canada didn’t score on the five-minute power play, but before the period ended Macklin Celebrini did score a power-play goal at 18:31 with Max Sasson in the penalty box for the United States. Canada won the quarterfinal clash 4-0 and eliminated the U.S., a minor payback for losing the gold medal game at the Milan-Cortina Olympics — perhaps.
Rangers defenseman Will Borgen, who had two assists in Team USA’s previous game, a 4-1 win over Austria, logged 12:30 TOI in the first two periods against Canada, and finished the tournament with three assists in eight games.
Lindgren had one assist and was plus-4 in eight games at the Worlds for the United States. After playing most of his first six seasons in the NHL as Adam Fox’s defense partner with the Rangers, Lindgren was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in March 2025. Lindgren then signed with the Seattle Kraken as a free agent last summer.
A popular heart-and-soul player, Lindgren recorded an NHL career-high 60 penalty minutes this season with the Kraken, but has never been considered a dirty player during his career. A noted shot-blocking machine, Lindgren finished second on Seattle with 118 blocks in 2025-26. However, he only was credited with 47 hits, picking his spots to lower the boom rather than running around hitting everything in sight.
There was no immediate word on the status of Bouchard, who recorded NHL career highs with 21 goals, 74 assists, and 95 points this season with the Oilers.
