Kuemper began 57 video games final season in Colorado and is anticipated to have an analogous load this yr. That will depart anyplace from about 20-30 video games for Lindgren, barring any accidents or important change in Kuemper’s current play.
“I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point,” Lindgren stated. “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 objectives towards common and a .958 save proportion. He spent nearly all of the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, and went to the Calder Cup remaining, an expertise Lindgren stated would assist him in the long term.
“Lindgren, he still has to prove what he is, but I think he’ll get it done,” Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan stated. “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 5 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, a stretch Lindgren says grew to become “frustrating” towards the top. Lindgren performed in 24 video games for the Canadiens, posting a 10-12-2 report with a 3.00 objectives towards common 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 stated. “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 laborious to miss Lindgren on the ice, his bushy mustache clear as day behind his goalie masks. You hear his snicker and banter, all the time smiling and cracking a joke at any time when he has the prospect. He prides himself in being a “good team guy,” and one who helps others round him enhance.
Lindgren’s aggressive nature comes from rising up in a hockey household — his youthful brother, Ryan, performs for the New York Rangers. His father and center brother, Andrew, each have been goalies.
“Chuck is an awesome guy,” T.J. Oshie stated. “ … 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 few Caps connection earlier than he got here 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 additionally went to St. Cloud however left a yr earlier than Lindgren arrived. Lindgren and Jensen have gotten nearer through the years, usually understanding with Dowd within the summers.
Lindgren and Dowd are shut associates and Lindgren gave Dowd’s son, Louie, his goalie stick Friday after observe. Dowd described Lindgren as “one of the hardest working goalies” he’s ever performed with.
“When I signed with Washington, obviously, [me and Dowd] were both really excited,” Lindgren stated. “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.”