The Washington Capitals learned this postseason that there's never enough depth on the blue line, as Martin Fehervary's absence weighed heavy on the team en route to an early playoff exit. That said, Washington may want to bolster the blue line this offseason, and there are several names expected to hit the market. One that could stand out is no other than Ryan Lindgren. The younger brother of Capitals netminder Charlie, Lindgren is expected to hit the free agency market come July 1, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche this past season following a rough start to the year with Peter Laviolette and the struggling New York Rangers. Lindgren brings quite a bit to the table as a depth defenseman. The 27-year-old has a stable, solid game that's reliable and consistent, and he's able to win puck battles while keeping the play out of harm's way. Though he's not a huge producer, he can move the puck quickly and efficiently. The only looming concern, though, is his health over time, as he's been prone to injury. Through 72 games this past season between the Rangers and Avalanche, the left-hand shot had four goals and 18 assists for 22 points, along with an even plus/minus, 128 blocks and 80 hits. He also had a Corsi-for percentage of 50.13 and a scoring chances-for percentage of 51.06 at all strengths. Lindgren carried a cap hit of $4.5 million last season, though given this year wasn't what he expected, he may cost a bit less, and could consider a discount to play with his brother in D.C. Washington isn't strangers to having siblings on the same side, with Ilya Protas having been drafted just one year ago to join older brother Aliaksei. However, it's unclear whether or not he would take a higher-paying contract elsewhere, and with there already being six NHL-ready defensemen on the Capitals' roster, it may be hard to find room for his services unless he's willing to compete for a spot. Also, the need for depth in D.C. mainly remains on the right side. Still, it's an interesting idea for D.C. to consider with the team needing more depth and capable players who are able to jump right into the lineup if someone goes down with injury.
