Brutal year comes to end for Canadiens hopeful
Rocket’s Lindgren gracious in defeat after AHL goalie finishes last in goals against
Being a goalie on a last-place team isn’t easy at any level of hockey, and Charlie Lindgren learned that this season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.
The Rocket finished with the AHL’s worst record (24-42-10) and also allowed the most goals, an average of 3.69 per game. Lindgren had an 8-19-2 record, a 3.39 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage.
During his three years of university hockey at St. Cloud State, Lindgren’s team made the NCAA tournament every year and he posted a 30-9-1 record in his final season with a 2.13 GAA and a .925 save percentage before signing with the Canadiens as a free agent after never being selected at the NHL Draft.
“It was hard ... I’m not going to lie,” Lindgren said Sunday morning about playing on a last-place team as the Rocket players packed up their lockers at Place Bell and held exit meetings with management.
“It wasn’t easy. I think in Laval here I ended up with eight wins. I mean, that in my mind is unacceptable. Coming into this year, I never would have thought … if you would have said in September I would have eight wins this year, I would have said you’re crazy. But that’s just the way it was. I can honestly say that standing here, I left it all on the ice. I gave it everything I had this year. That’s just the way it went.”
It obviously didn’t go well for the Rocket, who finished 30th in a 30-team league. Things weren’t much better for the Canadiens, who finished 28th in the 31-team NHL and ranked 25th in goals against, allowing an average of 3.15 per game. Lindgren played 14 games with the Canadiens, posting a 4-8-2 record with a 3.03 goalsagainst average and a .908 save percentage.
In February, the Canadiens signed the 24-year-old goalie to a three-year contract extension that kicks in next season. It’s a one-way deal, meaning Lindgren will earn US$750,000 whether he plays in the NHL or the AHL. He had a twoway deal this season paying him $700,000 in the NHL and $115,000 in the AHL.
“Just because I signed a threeyear contract doesn’t mean I’m given anything,” Lindgren said. “I know I got to earn everything I got. I’m ready to go for the summer. I look forward to working really hard. I want to be a Montreal Canadien next year.”
Since Carey Price has a new eight-year, US$84-million contract that kicks in next season, Lindgren is the Canadiens’ backup goalie of the future. Antti Niemi might have delayed that happening with a strong performance this season, posting a 7-5-4 record with a 2.46 GAA and a .929 save percentage. Niemi can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and the Canadiens might be interested in re-signing the veteran goalie for one more year while Lindgren gets another season in the AHL under his belt.
While the Rocket season is over, Lindgren isn’t packing up his goalie pads just yet. He recently received a call from USA Hockey, and the Minnesota native accepted the offer to represent his country at the IIHF World Championship, which begins May 4 in Denmark. It will mark the first time Lindgren wears a Team USA jersey.
His brother, Ryan, has played for Team USA twice at the world junior championship and also at the U-18 level. Ryan, a defenceman, was selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
“I think I always knew there was a possibility,” Lindgren said about being named to Team USA. “I was kind of the first goalie to commit, so I’m excited about the opportunity and want to do well. I think it’s going to be good to get over there and play some games, and I want to end the season on a high note.”