Lindgren looking to rebound with Laval
Strong performance in training camp might persuade Canadiens to keep him
At this time last year, Charlie Lindgren’s career path with the Canadiens seemed clear. He had a perfect 3-0 record against NHL competition and the plan was for Lindgren to play lots of minutes with the Laval Rocket and then step in as Carey Price’s backup this season.
But barring injuries or a major surprise in training camp, Lindgren is heading back to Laval for another season.
The past season wasn’t a good one for Montreal goaltenders. The problems started with Price, who was far from the world-class form that had defined his career. He dealt with a variety of health problems and finished the season with a 16-26-7 record, a 3.11 goalsagainst average and a .900 save percentage.
When Price was sidelined early in the season with chronic fatigue syndrome, Lindgren had an opportunity to establish himself as an NHL talent, and he won his first two starts to run his record in the bigs to 5-0.
But the bubble soon burst and he finished the season with a 4-8-3 mark in the NHL with a .908 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average.
Those numbers looked great when matched against his performance in Laval.
He had a 8-19-2 record with a 3.39 GAA and an .886 save percentage while backing up a truly terrible team.
The Canadiens did lock up Lindgren for three years with a one-way deal that carries a cap hit of $750,000, but all that means is he will be a highly paid AHL player.
There is an outside chance he can force the Canadiens to keep him with a strong performance in training camp.
That was the case a few years back when Mike Condon took the backup job away from incumbent Dustin Tokarski.
But that was a case of a battle between two relatively inexperienced goaltenders. Lindgren is matched against Antti Niemi, a veteran who has a Stanley Cup on his resumé.
Niemi was acquired as an insurance
policy last fall after he was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers.
The Finn, who will turn 35 later this week, benefited from a reunion with goaltending coach Stéphane Waite and emerged as the No. 1 goaltender in the organization.
He posted a 7-5-4 record with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.
To put that last number in perspective, Carter Hutton led all goaltenders with a .931 save percentage and Antti Raanta was No. 2 at .930.
Niemi’s performance resurrected his career and it was expected he would be a hot commodity on the free-agent market.
But the Canadiens had other plans.
They signed Niemi to a oneyear deal worth $950,000 more than a month before he became an unrestricted free agent.
The Niemi signing means Lindgren reverts to the role of backup in waiting.
There should be a better supporting cast in Laval, and he will share the workload with Michael McNiven.
They were part of a three-goalie rotation last season, but the net isn’t as crowded following the decision not to re-sign Zach Fucale, who is now in Las Vegas.