Kuemper started 57 games last season in Colorado and is expected to have a similar load this year. That will leave anywhere from about 20-30 games for Lindgren, barring any injuries or significant change in Kuemper’s recent play.
“I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point,” Lindgren said. “Like I’ve always told everyone, there’s no room for complacency, you’ve got to keep on working and keep on working hard. I’m still trying to climb the ladder and be a better goalie every single day.”
Washington signed Lindgren, 28, to a three-year, $3.3 million deal after he played in five games last season for the Blues and went 5-0-0 with a 1.22 goals against average and a .958 save percentage. He spent the majority of the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, and went to the Calder Cup final, an experience Lindgren said would help him in the long run.
“Lindgren, he still has to prove what he is, but I think he’ll get it done,” Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan said. “He’s got a smaller sample size. Really good in the American League. Really good in the sample size last year in the NHL. I think it’s a good opportunity for him and we believe he can do it.”
Before his time in St. Louis, he spent five seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, a stretch Lindgren says became “frustrating” toward the end. Lindgren played in 24 games for the Canadiens, posting a 10-12-2 record with a 3.00 goals against average and a .907 save-percentage.
“I went through my fair share of adversity in Montreal but also I look back and I think Montreal is what led me here,” Lindgren said. “I got to learn from one of the best goalies all-time in Carey Price and that is priceless … being around [Jordan] Binnington, [Ville] Husso, Joel Hofer [in St. Louis], I’ve been around so many good goalies and iron sharpens iron.”
It’s hard to miss Lindgren on the ice, his bushy mustache clear as day behind his goalie mask. You hear his laugh and banter, always smiling and cracking a joke whenever he has the chance. He prides himself in being a “good team guy,” and one who helps others around him improve.
Lindgren’s competitive nature comes from growing up in a hockey family — his younger brother, Ryan, plays for the New York Rangers. His father and middle brother, Andrew, both were goalies.
“Chuck is an awesome guy,” T.J. Oshie said. “ … l love that guy. He’s been great in the locker room and also on the ice working with guys, doing the extra stuff in practice and doing the little games at the end, that’s the fun stuff and when you bond and get better. That is a great tandem back there and I’m excited for them to get to work.”
Lindgren had a couple of Caps connection before he came to Washington. He knew Nic Dowd from their time at St. Cloud State. Lindgren was a freshman when Dowd was a senior and captain at St. Cloud. Nick Jensen also went to St. Cloud but left a year before Lindgren arrived. Lindgren and Jensen have gotten closer over the years, often working out with Dowd in the summers.
Lindgren and Dowd are close friends and Lindgren gave Dowd’s son, Louie, his goalie stick Friday after practice. Dowd described Lindgren as “one of the hardest working goalies” he’s ever played with.
“When I signed with Washington, obviously, [me and Dowd] were both really excited,” Lindgren said. “Like I said, we train together in the summers. So we were as thrilled as it gets. I have a ton of respect for Dowder. When I was freshman, being around him, he was like the first pro I ever really saw. Just the way he took care of his body and the way he competed, I learned a lot from him.”
