Former Avalanche Defenseman Lands on IR After Brutal Hit, Set to Miss 10+ Games

In the NHL, a game can change in an instant.

For Ryan Lindgren, it took 15 seconds.

The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman was injured Tuesday night after taking a hard hit from behind from Vegas Golden Knights forward Marc Gatcomb.

Lindgren was shaken up on the play but stayed on the bench and finished the opening period before Seattle ruled him out for the remainder of the game.

The Kraken placed Lindgren on injured reserve Thursday, announcing that he is expected to miss four to six weeks with an upper-body injury. That would keep him out for at least 10 games and likely sideline him well into November.

Lindgren’s time in Colorado was short, but it came at an important point for the Avalanche.

Colorado acquired the defenseman from the New York Rangers at the 2025 trade deadline, along with Jimmy Vesey and prospect Hank Kempf. In return, the Rangers received Calvin de Haan, Juuso Pärssinen and two conditional draft picks.

The Avalanche were looking for more physicality and experience on the blue line. Lindgren also arrived with the possibility of eventually becoming a longer-term replacement for Sam Girard.

That never happened.

Lindgren played 18 regular-season games for Colorado, recording two goals and one assist. He missed the Avalanche’s final three regular-season games but returned for the playoffs, appearing in the first-round series against the Dallas Stars.

Colorado eventually fell to Dallas in seven games, bringing Lindgren’s short stay in Denver to an end.

He departed in free agency that offseason, signing a four-year, $18 million contract with Seattle. The deal carries a $4.5 million annual cap hit through the 2028-29 season.

Lindgren played 76 games in his first full season with the Kraken, finishing with nine points on two goals and seven assists. The offensive production wasn't what he had hoped for, but Seattle continued to value what he brought defensively.

That role remained intact to begin this season.

Lindgren had played in each of Seattle’s first four games, averaging 12:45 per night. He entered Tuesday without a point but had a +3 plus-minus rating.

Then came the hit.

Lindgren took six shifts against Vegas and logged just 3:57 of ice time before his night was over. He remained on the bench following the play, but when the second period began, he was absent from Seattle’s bench. 

Now the Kraken will have to replace a regular defenseman for the next month or more.

The Kraken return to action Friday against the Detroit Red Wings.