The NHL’s trade deadline is less than two weeks away. The Washington Capitals appear to be making a late push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite that, some of the team’s key players are still being talked about in terms of trade interest from other NHL clubs.
The latest name on that list is goaltender Charlie Lindgren. In his second year with the Capitals, Lindgren has supplanted Darcy Kuemper as the team’s number-one netminder and his big season has caught the eye of several teams around the NHL according to Frank Seravalli’s latest deadline countdown post on Daily Faceoff.
“Teams are really interested in Lindgren, not just because of his play, but coupled with the fact that he is set to earn just $1.1 million next season against the cap,” Seravalli writes. “Lindgren would be of significant value. He’s unlikely to move at this deadline, but not impossible.”
Seravalli adds that the Capitals are not in trade mode yet as they have gone 4-0-1 in their last five games to bring themselves just four points away from the Philadelphia Flyers for third in the Metropolitan Division with two games in hand. Additionally, even if they were committed to selling, Lindgren’s acquisition cost would still be at a “premium” and the 30-year-old backstop could be a more prime offseason trade candidate.
Lindgren has made 27 appearances for the Capitals this season and amassed a 12-8-5 record with a 2.64 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and three shutouts. Per MoneyPuck, Lindgren’s 8.8 goals saved above expected ranks in the top half of the league and second only to Jacob Markstrom among potential trade deadline candidates.
The Capitals could be more willing to move on from Lindgren given the performance of some of their prospect goaltenders in the minor leagues. In Hershey, Clay Stevenson was named an All-Star and has arguably been the best goalie in the entire AHL in his rookie season. Meanwhile, his tandem mate with the Bears, Hunter Shepard, was the AHL playoff MVP last summer and has a 21-2-2 record this year.
Lindgren is signed through next season at a very cheap $1.1 million cap hit. The Capitals also have Darcy Kuemper under contract through the 2026-27 campaign at a much more expensive $5.25 million cap hit.
The organization could stand to benefit from moving the older Lindgren for a high price and promoting from within. The Capitals have four more games before the deadline to determine if that’s something they wish to do before the 2024 offseason.
