Oscar Lindberg has not yet managed to establish himself as an everyday NHL player during his short time with the New York Rangers franchise. The one-time second-round pick of the Coyotes has been working hard this offseason to prove to new Rangers GM Jeff Gorton and head coach Alain Vigneault that he deserves to stay up with the big club for 2015-16. Thus far in the preseason, the 23-year-old Lindberg has two goals in two games. He'll suit up again against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, along with many of the Rangers' regulars, for his first taste of action with the full, or mostly full, complement of New York starters. Still, with the Rangers deep down the middle of their lineup, a natural center like Lindberg isn't assured a spot with New York. And it seems quite a few other NHL teams are keeping an eye on Lindberg's status.
"Opponents are watching the Rangers' Oscar Lindberg, who must clear waivers to be sent down to AHL Hartford," Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. "He played center in game one, and scored. He played wing in game two, and scored. He's regularly in the middle, but New York is loaded there. The expectation (from outside) is he makes it, but if he doesn't, extremely unlikely he clears. And the Rangers are well aware of that."
Lindberg has appeared in just one game with the Rangers during his time with the franchise. In July, the Rangers signed Lindberg to a two-year contract after he posted an AHL season wherein he totaled 28 goals and 28 assists in 75 games and added another 16 points in 15 playoff contests.
There's no doubting he's talented, but he simply hasn't been putting out a product that's enough to push past the likes of J.T. Miller or Dominic Moore. He could garner a spot on the wing, but it won't be an easy feat either.
In the end, the Rangers certainly want to keep Lindberg, but they'll have some difficult decisions to make once the final cut down comes. It's a problem, but it's one that only plagues the best franchises in the league.
