Capitals, Charlie Lindgren Agree to Three-Year, $9-Million Extension
The Washington Capitals have locked up the other half of one of hockey’s most sensational goaltending tandems.
Just over a month after inking goaltender Logan Thompson to a six-year, $35.1-million extension in January, the club announced Monday it landed on a three-year deal worth $9 million for backup Charlie Lindgren.
His new deal will pay him an average annual value of $3 million per season, a considerable raise from the $1.1 million AAV on his current contract, which was set to expire this summer.
“Since joining our organization in 2022, Charlie has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and reliability in net with his athleticism and drive,” general manager Chris Patrick said in a press release. “With both goalies under contract for the next three seasons, we expect this tandem to provide our club stability at a crucial position and push one another to compete and play at a high level.”
Washington is now set between the pipes through at least the 2027-28 campaign. Previously, both netminders were slated to become unrestricted free agents after this season.
Lindgren delivered a breakout performance in 2023-24, posting career-highs in games played (50), goals-against average (2.67), save percentage (.911) and shutouts (six). He also registered 10.5 goals saved above expected, finishing 10th among qualified NHL goaltenders (min. 40 games), according to MoneyPuck.
But the 31-year-old hasn’t been nearly as effective this season, earning a 2.70 GAA, .896 SV percentage and only one shutout across 27 contests in a reduced role as Thompson’s backup. Additionally, he’s saved minus-2.2 goals above expected thus far – a significant decline from a season ago.
Thompson, meanwhile, has been excellent in his first season with the Capitals. Among goaltenders with at least 25 games played, he ranks second in GSAx (27.8), third in SV percentage (.919) and fourth in GAA (2.27) league-wide. He also features a pair of shutouts with the club.
During the off-season, Washington restructured its goaltending situation by trading Darcy Kuemper to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for centre Pierre-Luc Dubois, with both teams swapping unwanted contracts. From there, the front office acquired Thompson via trade from the Vegas Golden Knights for a pair of third-round draft picks.
Switching to a tandem of Thompson and Lindgren – whose brother Ryan was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday as part of a package from the New York Rangers – has worked out beautifully for the Capitals, who’re allowing 2.57 goals against per game this season, third-fewest in the league.
Washington was swept out of the first round by New York in last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs. But the franchise now sits among the sport’s top-tier contenders, ranking first in the East and the Metropolitan Division with 84 points and a 38-14-8 record.
It’s been a surprising rise to the top for head coach Spencer Carbery’s club, making him a clear front-runner for this season’s Jack Adams Award as the league’s Coach of the Year.
The Capitals will aim to snap a three-game skid during Monday’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators at Capital One Arena.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: TheAHL. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.