WASHINGTON — Recently, Charlie Lindgren had some doubts about his future with the Washington Capitals, especially after the team signed Logan Thompson, the other half of their goaltending duo, to a long-term deal in January. Despite his concerns, Lindgren always saw the Capitals as a dream organization to be part of. His worries about his tenure with the Capitals, however, can now be laid to rest.
The Capitals rewarded Lindgren’s critical role in their previous playoff run by securing his services for another three years, agreeing on a contract worth $9 million. General Manager Chris Patrick expressed admiration for Lindgren’s contributions, stating, “Since joining our organization in 2022, Charlie has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and reliability in net with his athleticism and drive.” The Capitals now have both goalkeepers locked in for the future, which Patrick believes will bring stability and competitiveness at a vital position.
Logan Thompson’s contract amounts to $35.1 million over the coming six years. When the new deals take effect next season, Thompson and Lindgren will collectively cost the Capitals under $9 million annually against the salary cap, ensuring financial planning and stability ahead of the expected rise of the NHL salary cap, set to increase by $7.5 million to $95.5 million by the 2025-26 season.
Ottawa Senators winger David Perron, who once played alongside Lindgren in St. Louis, praised his peer, stating, “Good for him. He would just come and practice and work as hard as he could and put a smile on his face, have a great attitude. Finally, when he got (to Washington), he got a real chance to play consistently. He’s done a really good job, and obviously, he’s one of the top goalies over the last several years, so great for him.”
Lindgren, now 31, re-signed his contract with the Capitals while they currently lead the Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division. His synergy with Thompson has been a crucial factor for this success. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery commented on the strong dynamic between the two goaltenders, saying, “It’s a great partnership. I think both guys work well together. They feed off of one another. They have a great relationship, so that part of it is excellent. And I think just the way that both guys are such capable 1A goalies in this league, it gives us a luxury of being able to utilize both guys.”
The Capitals front office swiftly moved to engage Lindgren’s representatives after securing Thompson’s contract to ensure he remained with the team. Without the new deal, Lindgren would have become a free agent on July 1. Lindgren reflected on the negotiation process, expressing satisfaction with the outcome. “Really happy to get it done and to sign a three-year deal here,” he said. Even after Thompson’s signing, capitals leader Patrick made sure to involve Lindgren in discussions about his role in the team, which left Lindgren with immense respect for Patrick’s openness and clarity in their talks.
Whereas Thompson is starting his inaugural season with the Capitals, Lindgren secured the starting job last season from Darcy Kuemper, making a substantial impact in leading the team to an unlikely playoff berth. Ottowa’s Nick Jensen lauded Lindgren’s influence and diligence, saying, “He’s been an amazing goaltender. His work ethic and training when he’s off the ice, on the ice, during games, it’s unmatched. The guy works so hard, so it’s really well-deserved and I’m really happy for him.”
With Lindgren now a key part of Washington’s goaltending future, General Manager Patrick can shift focus to addressing other team priorities, such as reaching a new deal with defenseman Jakob Chychrun before the trade deadline on Friday. With Lindgren elevating his earning potential from a $1.1 million contract to nearly tripling it, his journey from an undrafted hopeful with the Montreal Canadiens to a reliable playmaker for the Capitals marks a significant achievement for the persistent late-bloomer.
Former defenseman Karl Alzner, who has observed Lindgren’s journey from Montreal to Washington, expressed his admiration for Lindgren’s perseverance, “It’s hard to play in Montreal and then probably even harder to be a goalie in Montreal. He had a lot of expectation, too, and to be able to get out of there and take a little pit stop in St. Louis and then really start to shine here I think just goes to show you how good his resolve is and how tough he is mentally to be able to get to this point. He’s just lovable and he works so hard, and so it’s great to see.”
