The Washington Capitals are set at goaltender for the near future. Just over a month after signing netminder Logan Thompson to a six-year deal, the Capitals signed fellow goalie Charlie Lindgren to a three-year, $9 million extension on Monday.
While Thompson has been dominant this season, Lindgren has been efficient as an additional option. In 26 starts this season, the 31-year-old has posted a 13-10-3 record while allowing 2.7 goals per game with a .898 save percentage.
“Since joining our organization in 2022, Charlie has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and reliability in net with his athleticism and drive,” Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said. “With both goalies under contract for the next three seasons, we expect this tandem to provide our club stability at a crucial position and push one another to compete and play at a high level.”
Lindgren, an undrafted free agent, surged into a starting role last season after spending much of his career as a rotational player. In two and a half seasons in Washington, the Minnesota native has recorded a .905 save percentage and allowed 2.78 goals per game.
His seven shutouts rank sixth in franchise history, while his 51 wins leave him one victory shy of the Capitals’ Top 10.
Thompson’s deal is for $35.1 million over the next six years. When their new contracts kick in next season, Thompson will count $5.85 million and Lindgren $3 million against the salary cap, giving Washington cost certainty in net at under $9 million annually.
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have already agreed to raise the cap by $7.5 million to $95.5 million in 2025-26 with bigger increases in ’26-27 and ’27-28.
Lindgren, 31, re-upping comes with the Capitals atop the Eastern Conference and in first place in the Metropolitan Division with a comfortable cushion ahead of second-place Carolina. The combination of him and Thompson is a big reason why.
“It’s a great partnership,” coach Spencer Carbery told reporters after his team’s morning skate in Arlington. “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.”
Lindgren said the front office reached out to his camp to negotiate right after finalizing Thompson’s contract. He would have been a free agent July 1 without a new agreement.
“Really happy to get it done and to sign a three-year deal here,” Lindgren said. “After Logan signed, (Patrick) actually allowed me the opportunity to go and just meet with him and he still told me where I fit into the picture and how bad he wanted me to be a part of this organization and I can’t tell you the amount of respect I have for just that meeting and him allowing me to just have a conversation with him just to kind of see where I fit in and it still made sense.”
This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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