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Evaluating The In-House Solutions To The Montreal Canadiens’ Backup Goalie Problem

By Teddy Elliot

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 06: Goaltender Charlie Lindgren #39 of the Montreal Canadiens stretches out to protect the net against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on April 6, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 06: Goaltender Charlie Lindgren #39 of the Montreal Canadiens stretches out to protect the net against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on April 6, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 7: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Charlie Lindgren

Career NHL stats: 24 GP – 10 W – 12 L – 2 OTL – 3.00 GAA – .907 SV% – 2 SO

Is Charlie Lindgren really an NHL goalie?

Based on his stats, there’s a lot to be desired.

Lindgren has yet to establish himself as an NHL regular even though he was once one of the most sought-after free agent goalies out of the NCAA’s St. Cloud State University. After an impressive series of games, Lindgren stumbled and was relegated to the AHL in favour of Antti Niemi.

Unfortunately, Lindgren has not inspired confidence during his time in the Laval Rocket crease. In 134 career AHL games, he’s posted a very average 2.89 GAA, .897 SV%, 50 wins, 57 losses, 23 overtime losses, and 8 shutouts.

In a pregame interview on March 1, 2020, head coach Claude Julien told Sportsnet’s Eric Engels that:

"The goal is not to ride Pricer into the ground. The goal is obviously, as you saw tonight, to give Charlie an opportunity to play here. And if he plays well, then why not?"

If he’s to claim the backup role behind Price, Lindgren is going to have to do way better.

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Cayden Primeau

Career NHL Stats: 2 GP – 1 W – 1 L – 2.52 GAA – .931 SV%

Much has been said about Cayden Primeau‘s incredible potential. The 21-year-old netminder has already drawn comparisons to Carey Price, and in the eyes of many fans, Primeau is the heir apparent.

But is he ready for a full-time NHL position?

It’s hard to say based on only two games of NHL experience, but Primeau has shown that he can be steady under pressure and make huge saves when he needs to.

One wrinkle to this plan is that if Primeau folds under the pressure of playing up to 35 games a season, the Habs must once again increase Price’s workload. And despite their brotherly relationship, the last thing Price needs right now is to babysit a “little brother.”

The Canadiens have a bad habit of rushing prospects before they’re ready, and because goalies are voodoo, the Habs would do well to let Primeau develop and play a full season as Laval‘s starter under the tutelage of Joël Bouchard.

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