The Montreal Canadiens have come to terms on a three-year, $2.25 million contract extension for goaltender Charlie Lindgren. The contract will pay Lindgren an annual salary of $750,000 and will kick in for the 2018-19 season. The contract is also a one-way deal for the duration of the contract
![Charlie Lindgren goaltender Montreal Canadiens](https://s3951.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Charlie-Lindgren-Getty-575x439.jpg)
Lindgren played in eight games with the Canadiens this season, posting a 3-4-1 record with a 2.43 goals against average. While those totals may not jump off the page, Lindgren did post a quality .924 save percentage which may have been more indicative of his work. In 11 career NHL games, all with the Canadiens, Lindgren has posted a 6-4-1 record with an impressive 2.21 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.
Undrafted Start for Lindgren
An undrafted goaltender, Lindgren originally signed with the Canadiens in 2015 following an impressive three-year run at St. Cloud State. In his first season at St. Cloud, Lindgren went 2-2-1 in 10 games with a 2.42 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. He found his footing in his second season, however, compiling a record of 19-18-1 with a respectable 2.26 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. His final year at St. Cloud State may have gotten him the recognition he needed to be signed to an NHL year, however.
![](https://s3951.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Charlie-Lindgren-575x407.jpg)
Playing in 40 games in 2015-16, Lindgren had a sterling 30-9-1 record with a 2.13 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. It was enough to see Lindgren sign with the Canadiens and even get a game with the team’s big club down the stretch. While Lindgren won that game, allowing only two goals and making 26 saves while also posting an impressive 2-0 record with a 1.48 goals against average and .949 save percentage the following year, he spent most of his 2016-17 season in the AHL with the St. John’s IceCaps.
In 48 games with the IceCaps, Lindgren went 24-18-1 with a 2.56 goals agast average and a .914 save percentage. Unfortunately for the young netminder, his totals this season with the Laval Rocket following his eight-game NHL stint have been less than impressive. In 28 games, Lindgren has compiled a 7-13-1 record with a 3.15 goals against average and a .893 save percentage. It’s been a trying year for the young netminder, but the Canadiens have rewarded him for his efforts and are keeping him under contract for at least another three years as a result.
The Canadiens’ Found Their Backup
It isn’t uncommon for a goaltender to take more time to develop than young players at other positions. At 24 years old, Lindgren has a lot of time to learn and develop before the Habs have to even consider making him a starter. Carey Price’s eight-year, $84 million contract, complete with a full no-movement clause in every year of the deal, also makes Lindgren’s development timeline less of a concern for the Canadiens who are likely heading to a rebuild in the near future.
In the end, Lindgren is a young goalie who has a lot of time to develop into what could be a starting-caliber netminder one day. For the Canadiens, this deal comes with little-to-no risk and provides insurance for Price, who is prone to injuries. The deal also likely entails that Lindgren will be the Canadiens full-time backup next season with Antti Niemi’s deal expiring at the end of this season.