Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres took their first defenseman of the 2022 NHL Draft in the fourth round on Friday, selecting Mats Lindgren with the 106th overall pick from the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League.
Lindgren played his first full season in the WHL after having two shortened seasons due to the COVID-19 gap year. In the 2021-22 season, he played 22 games for the Blazers, recording 10 points (1+9). He also played in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) with the Chicago Cougars, where he played 10 games and scored 11 points (2+9).
This year, the left-shot defenseman played 68 games for the Blazers, scoring five goals and adding 39 assists for a total of 44 points.
Elite Prospects describes Lindgren as a defenseman who is proficient at breaking the puck out of the defensive zone. He has his offensive upsides as a passing threat to help his team move up the ice.
Here's more on Lindgren from Director of North American Scouting for Elite Prospects, Mitch Brown:
"Offensively, this kid can move the puck out of the zone. He sets up his transitional dekes well with head/ shoulder fakes and can carve into the space provided."
Lindgren is likely to return to Kamloops in the WHL next year for his second full season with the Blazers.
The native of North Vancouver, British Columbia is the son of former NHL forward Mats Lindgren, who played parts of seven seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks.
