Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren recently signed a three-year, $9 million deal to solidify his presence on DC’s prolific goalie tandem. With 27 starts and a .907 save percentage (SV%), Lindgren has been a big factor in the team’s success this season and has made a name for himself in the nation’s capital for the past three years. How did Lindgren become such a reliable goaltender?
Charlie Lindgren’s Early Career
Charlie Lindgren, a native of Minnesota, was undrafted by the NHL but got his start at the collegiate level. He played for St. Cloud State from 2013 to 2016, where he boasted a 51-29-8 record and averaged a .921 SV% in his three seasons with the team. His impressive performance earned him numerous honors and accolades, such as being named to the 2014 NCHC All-Rookie Team, the 2015 NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team, and earning the NCHC Goalie of the Week notice a handful of times. His performance earned him the notice of NHL scouts, and Lindgren was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens in 2016.
He got his first NHL start and win in April of that year, leading his team to a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Lingren played just 24 games at the NHL level with the Canadiens, instead spending most of his time with their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He spent 5 seasons with the Rocket, creating a respectable .892 SV% in his time there and getting the nod for the AHL All-Star Game in 2017.
St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals
After his contract with the Canadiens expired in 2021, Charlie Lindgren was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Blues, where he was quickly assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Lindgren had an incredibly solid season in Springfield, ending with a 24-7-1 record. He played five games with the Blues that season and won all five. Despite his respectable performance in the Blues’ organization, they did not re-sign Lindgren after his one-year contract expired. Instead, Charlie Lindgren was signed as a Washington Capital in 2022 on a three-year, $3.3 million contract.
He played 31 games in his first season with the Capitals alongside Darcy Kuemper, ending with a .899 SV%. He really began to find his footing in the 2023-2024 season, getting his first shutout in November 2023. Toward the end of the season, his performance was becoming so strong that he superseded Kuemper to become the Capitals’ favored starting goaltender. He ended the regular season with a 25-16-7 record, winning the final three games to help the Capitals sneak into the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
This season, Lindgren has split the title of starting goaltender fairly evenly with Logan Thompson, getting 27 starts to Thompson’s 35. While Lindgren is not having quite the same level of success as last season, his .898 SV% and 2.7 goals against average have made him a high-performing and reliable backup goaltender to Thompson. Lindgren plays with “exceptional professionalism and reliability in net with his athleticism and drive,” said Capitals’ General Manager Chris Patrick. “Chucky” is well-loved by his teammates in the locker room, as well. He’s celebrated and shouted out in spectacular fashion, with his shutouts being accompanied by his cover of Talladega by Eric Church.
Charlie Lindgren has made an impact on the Washington, D.C. community as well, starting “Lindy’s Lineup“, a foundation to bring adaptive sports to children in special education classrooms. Lindgren is a stellar performer on the ice, a beloved teammate in the locker room, and a good samaritan in the community. Washington, D.C. is lucky to have him, and glad he is here to stay.
ITR 36: Coaching Carousel – Inside The Rink
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