{{Short description|Swedish ice hockey player (born 2007)}} {{AI-generated|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Zeb Lindgren | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|4|14|df=y}} | birth_place = Umeå, Sweden | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 196 | position = Defenceman | shoots = Left | team = Skellefteå AIK | league = SHL | draft_year = 2025 | draft_team = New York Rangers | draft = 139th overall | career_start = 2024 }}
'''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.<ref name="NHLProfile">{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/player/zeb-lindgren-8485443 |title=Zeb Lindgren Stats and News |publisher=NHL.com |access-date=2026-05-20}}</ref>
== Early life == Lindgren was born on 14 April 2007 in Umeå, Sweden.<ref name="EP">{{cite web |title=Zeb Lindgren |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/803208/zeb-lindgren |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=2026-05-20}}</ref> 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.<ref name="NHLProfile"/> He later moved into the competitive junior pipeline of SHL organization Skellefteå AIK.<ref name="BlueLine">{{cite web |last=Knapp |first=Andy |url=https://bluelinestation.com/rangers-select-gifted-mobile-puck-moving-defenseman-at-no-139-overall-during-2025-nhl-draft |title=Rangers select gifted mobile puck-moving defenseman at No. 139 overall during 2025 NHL Draft |publisher=Blue Line Station |date=2025-06-28 |access-date=2026-05-20}}</ref>
== Playing career == === Junior === Lindgren advanced to Skellefteå AIK's under-20 program, becoming a regular top-pairing blue-liner on their J20 Nationell roster.<ref name="THWProfile">{{cite web |last=Sievila |first=Alex |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/zeb-lindgren-2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/ |title=Zeb Lindgren – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile |magazine=The Hockey Writers |date=2025-05-23 |access-date=2026-05-20}}</ref> During the 2024–25 season, he recorded four goals and 15 assists for 19 points across 38 regular-season games.<ref name="BlueLine"/> 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.<ref name="NZScouting">{{cite web |url=https://neutralzone.com/nhl-scouting-reports/j20-nationell-zeb-lindgren/ |title=J20 Nationell: Zeb Lindgren |publisher=Neutral Zone |date=2025-05-13 |access-date=2026-05-20}}</ref>
=== Professional === Heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau listed Lindgren ranked 20th overall among all European skaters.<ref name="BlueLine"/> On 28 June 2025, he was selected in the fifth round, 139th overall, by the New York Rangers.<ref name="BlueSeat">{{cite web |last=Fortunato |first=Alex |url=https://blueseatblogs.com/2025/06/28/2025-nhl-draft-rangers-zeb-lindgren/ |title=2025 NHL Draft: Rangers select defenseman Zeb Lindgren with 5th round pick |publisher=Blue Seat Blogs |date=2025-06-28 |access-date=2026-05-20}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BlueLine"/>
== Player profile == Scouting profiles define Lindgren as a highly mobile, high-IQ defensive defenseman who prioritizes low-risk puck distribution.<ref name="THWProfile"/> Independent analysis highlights his skating posture and the power generated from his strides as his definitive developmental calling card.<ref name="SNY">{{cite web |url=https://sny.tv/articles/rangers-2025-nhl-draft-every-pick |title=Rangers 2025 NHL Draft: Every pick from Saturday's rounds |publisher=SNY |date=2025-06-28 |access-date=2026-05-20}}</ref> 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.<ref name="THWProfile"/> 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.<ref name="BlueSeat"/>
== Career statistics == === Regular season and playoffs === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;" |- ! colspan="3" | !! colspan="5" | Regular season !! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- ! Season !! Team !! League !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2020–21 || IF Björklöven U16 || U16 Div.1 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 3 || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2024–25 || Skellefteå AIK U20 || J20 Nationell || 38 || 4 || 15 || 19 || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2024–25 || Skellefteå AIK || SHL || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Ice hockey stats |nhl=8485443 |elite=803208 |hockeydb=270712 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindgren, Zeb}} Category:2007 births Category:Living people Category:Swedish ice hockey defencemen Category:Skellefteå AIK players Category:New York Rangers draft picks Category:People from Umeå