Lindgren proving a perfect fit in Red Deer
By DANNY RODE – Defence has always been a major part of Red Deer Rebels success.
So, when they got an opportunity to select Zeb Lindgren in the 2026 CHL Import Draft they jumped at the opportunity.
Lindgren, a 2025 draft selection of the New York Rangers, had all the ingredients needed to fit onto the Rebels blueline. The 19-year-old native of Umea, Sweden has the size – six-foot-one, 205-pounds, plays the game with speed and has a high hockey IQ.
One of the few things Lindgren needed to work on was getting used to playing on a smaller ice surface.
“It was a change for sure,” he said following practice Wednesday. “But I’m feeling better and better each game with my timing and everything.
“We play more of a North-South game here and the guys do get on top of you quicker and you have to react faster and make plays faster so that’s what I’m working on.”
Rebels assistant coach Mike Egener, who looks after the defence, agreed.
“Play here happens quicker,” he said. “But he’s making solid progress, you notice him every day in practice, pushing himself to be his best.”
Egener added that Lindgren fits in how the team wants to play.
“We want to play in your face with solid gaps and challenge guys, make the other teams earn everything they get against us. But we also want to play fast and you see in practice and games he makes quick decisions with the puck, he doesn’t complicate things.”
Lindgren understands his job is to shut down the opposition defensively, but he’s working on offence as well.
“I work on offence every day … shooting, stick handling and I’m feeling good,” he said.
He has a pair of assists in seven games so far, and looking for that first goal.
“Looking forward to that,” he said with a smile.
Lindgren came up through a solid Swedish minor program. He has experience with the national program, which first brought him to Alberta two years ago. He played in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton and the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose.
But it wasn’t until this summer that he decided to return.
“After I talked with Brent (Rebels owner/president/General Manager Brent Sutter),” he said. “It’s such a great organization, giving me a chance to develop.”
The Rangers also wanted him to come to Canada as well.
“Of course, they wanted me to come over to be closer to me,” he said.
He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft and has attended the past two camps, with The Big Apple was a bit of a shock coming from a smaller city in Sweden.
“My hometown is similar to here, a perfect size,” he said. “New York is different, a lot of traffic, you’re sitting still a lot.”
The Rangers had a few words for him when he returned to the Rebels this season.
“They told me to keep playing hard in the defensive zone but also follow up the rushes.”
All that is similar to his favorite NHL player, Victor Hedman.
Lindgren will return to action this weekend, alongside his defensive partner, Jake Missura.
“We’ve been together from the start, and I feel good with him. I like how he plays, we’re good partners.”
The Rebels host the Calgary Hitmen Friday at 7 p.m. and the Edmonton Oil Kings on holiday Monday at 2 p.m.
The Rebels will enjoy a lot of home cooking over the next while as they’re at the Marchant Crane Centrium seven of their next eight games.
