Capitals Sign Lindgren To Finalize Goaltending Tandem

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Just minutes after signing Darcy Kuemper, the Washington Capitals finalized their goaltending tandem and brought on a solid No. 2.

Washington has signed goaltender Charlie Lindgren to a three-year, $3.3 million deal that carries an AAV of $1.1 million, general manager Brian MacLellan announced on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old played five games with the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22, going 5-0-0 with a .958 save percentage and a 1.22 GAA. He spent a majority of the time with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds this season, going 24-7-1- with a .925 SV%, good for second in the AHL, and a 2.21 GAA, good for third.

Lindgren first joined the NHL ranks back in 2015, when he signed with the Montreal Canadiens as an undrafted free agent following his time at St. Cloud State University. Through 29 career NHL games with St. Louis and Montreal, Lindgren is 15-12-2 with a .913 SV% and 2.74 GAA. At the AHL level, he is 76-65-24 with a .903 SV%, 2.75 GAA and 11 shutouts.

The 6-2, 179-pound goaltender is still young and has upside following a strong overall performance in the Blues organization last season. He will serve as a No. 2 for Kuemper, who signed a five-year deal with the club.

READ MORE ON WHN: Capitals Sign Kuemper To Five-Year Deal, Establish Starter

Washington now has its duo for 2022-23 after not having a goaltender on the roster prior to free agency. The Capitals traded Vitek Vanecek to the New Jersey Devils at the draft. Then, they passed on qualifying Ilya Samsonov, who went on to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.