Charlie Lindgren
Birth dateDecember 18, 1993 (age 32)
Birth placeLakeville, Minnesota, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in1
Weight lb186
PositionGoaltender
CatchesRight
LeagueNHL
TeamWashington Capitals
Ntl teamUSA
Prospect leagueAHL
Former teamsMontreal Canadiens
St. Louis Blues
DraftUndrafted
Career start2016

Charles Lindgren (born December 18, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally undrafted by teams in the NHL, Lindgren has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues.

Playing career

Lindgren began his junior career with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2012–13.[1] He then played collegiately at St. Cloud State of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 2013–16. On March 30, 2016, Lindgren decided to forego his senior year at St. Cloud State,[2] and was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens to a two-year, two-way contract.[1][3]

At the tail end of the 2015–16 season, Lindgren played in his first NHL game on April 7, 2016. The Canadiens won the game 4–2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.[4][5]

On November 5, 2017, Lindgren registered his first career shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 2–0 win, making 38 total saves. He was the starting goalie of this game due to an injury to Carey Price.[6][7] On February 13, 2018, the Canadiens signed Lindgren to a three-year, $2.25 million contract extension.[8]

On July 29, 2021, the St. Louis Blues signed Lindgren as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract.[9] He was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, to begin the season. He was later recalled and made his debut for the Blues on December 7, 2021, when Blues goaltender Ville Husso was injured late in the third period in a game against the Florida Panthers. Entering with the score tied at 3–3, Lindgren was credited with the win, having played six minutes and faced three Panther shots before the Blues won in overtime, 4–3.

On July 13, 2022, Lindgren was signed as a free agent to a three-year, $3.3 million contract with the Washington Capitals.[10] On November 14, 2023, Lindgren posted his first shutout with Washington against the Vegas Golden Knights, making 35 saves in a 3–0 win.[11] Towards the end of the season, his goaltending improved significantly to the point where he superseded ex-Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper for the role of starting goaltender,[12] eventually backstopping the team to take the last available playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by winning the final three regular season games, in which Lindgren posted a stellar .962 save percentage.

On March 3, 2025, Lindgren signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension with the Capitals, keeping him with the team through the 2027-28 season.[13]

Personal life

His younger brother, Ryan, is a defenseman for the Seattle Kraken.[14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2009–10Lakeville North HighSSC15——————3.13.8772—————1.04.967
2010–11Lakeville North HighSSC18——————3.30.9053—————0.57.978
2011–12Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL339193182110103.33.907————————
2012–13Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL5235142285313322.80.90010555952512.52.921
2013–14St. Cloud StateNCHC102213221312.42.905————————
2014–15St. Cloud StateNCHC381918122268422.26.919————————
2015–16St. Cloud StateNCHC40309123438352.13.925————————
2015–16Montreal CanadiensNHL110060202.00.929————————
2016–17St. John's IceCapsAHL4824186285912252.56.9144132721002.21.922
2016–17Montreal CanadiensNHL2200122301.48.949————————
2017–18Laval RocketAHL378199216112223.39.886————————
2017–18Montreal CanadiensNHL144828334223.03.908————————
2018–19Laval RocketAHL331114618599102.94.884————————
2018–19Montreal CanadiensNHL110065504.62.898————————
2019–20Laval RocketAHL167629234112.67.893————————
2019–20Montreal CanadiensNHL62403612003.33.888————————
2020–21Laval RocketAHL3210180702.34.887————————
2021–22Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL34247119797332.21.9258534952312.79.914
2021–22St. Louis BluesNHL5500247501.22.958————————
2022–23Washington CapitalsNHL311311316938603.05.899————————
2023–24Washington CapitalsNHL5025167285212762.67.9114042351403.58.864
2024–25Washington CapitalsNHL3920143228710212.68.8961007109.07.800
2025–26Washington CapitalsNHL2198312467313.52.879————————
NHL totals1708261189,764465102.87.9025042411503.73.861

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
2024United StatesWC5th2110118402.03.931
Senior totals2110118402.03.931

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
USHL
Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year2013[15]
USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game2013[16]
College
NCHC All-Rookie Team2014[17]
NCHC Honorable Mention All-Star Team2015[18]
NCHC All-Tournament Team2015, 2016[19][20]
NCHC First All-Star Team2016[21]
NCHC Goaltender of the Year2016[22]
AHCA West First Team All-American2016[23]
NCHC All-Decade Second Team2023[22]
AHL
All-Star Game2017[24]

References

  1. ^ "Canadiens agree to terms on a two-year contract with free agent Charlie Lindgren". Montreal Canadiens. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-03-30. – via NHL.com.
  2. ^ Hickey, Pat (April 8, 2016). "In the Habs' Room: Teammates 'told me not to worry' after first goal, Charlie Lindgren says". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  3. ^ "Canadiens sign NCAA goaltender Charlie Lindgren". Sportsnet.ca. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  4. ^ Haenchen, Brian (2016-04-07). "Charlie Lindgren shines in NHL debut". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  5. ^ Potter, Mike (2016-04-07). "Canadiens G Lindgren wins NHL debut". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  6. ^ "Lindgren gets first career shutout in Canadiens win over Blackhawks". Sportsnet.ca. November 5, 2017.
  7. ^ Cohen, Jay (November 5, 2017). "Charlie Lindgren's 1st career shutout backstops Habs past Blackhawks". CBC Sports
  8. ^ Godin, Joanie (February 13, 2018). "Three-year contract extension for Charlie Lindgren". Translated by Braverman, Dan. Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved February 20, 2018. – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Blues sign 3 players to one-year, two-way contracts". St. Louis Blues. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021. – via NHL.com.
  10. ^ "Capitals sign Charlie Lindgren". Washington Capitals. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022. – via NHL.com.
  11. ^ Johnson, Bailey (2023-11-15). "Behind Charlie Lindgren's shutout, Capitals deny the defending champs". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  12. ^ Silber, Sammi (April 16, 2024). "In The Fight Of His Life With The Capitals, Lindgren Gives All The Credit To Kuemper: 'He's Been In My Corner'". The Hockey News. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  13. ^ Gulitti, Tom (2025-03-04). "Lindgren signs 3-year, $9 million contract with Capitals | NHL.com". www.nhl.com. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  14. ^ "Ryan Lindgren". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  15. ^ Carroll, Steve (2013-05-29). "Lakeville's Charlie Lindgren named USA Hockey's Goalie of the Year.". MinnesotaHockey.org. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  16. ^ "LINDGREN SHINES IN PROSPECTS GAME". ESPN Sioux Falls. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  17. ^ "Inaugural All-Conference Teams Revealed". NCHCHockey.com. 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  18. ^ "NCHC All-Conference, All-Rookie Teams Announced for 2014-15". NCHCHockey.com. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  19. ^ "No. 5/6 Miami Captures 2015 NCHC Tournament Crown". NCHCHockey.com. 2015-03-21. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  20. ^ "St. Cloud State Captures 2016 Frozen Faceoff Title". NCHCHockey.com. 2016-03-19. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  21. ^ "SCSU, UND Lead 2015-16 NCHC All-Conference Teams". NCHCHockey.com. 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  22. ^ "NCHC All-Decade Second Team Announced". NCHCHockey.com. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  23. ^ "Record Seven NCHC Players Earn All-American Honors from AHCA". NCHCHockey.com. 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  24. ^ "Rosters set for 2017 AHL All-Star Classic". TheAHL.com. 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2024-08-05.