Charlie Lindgren was one of the new names on the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday morning.
Lindgren joined a large group of Capitals players continuing their informal skates at the club’s practice facility ahead of the start of this month’s training camp. Just as his goaltending battery mate Logan Thompson did a few days ago, Lindgren debuted a new mask and new pad setup for the 2026-27 season.
The 32-year-old netminder’s new bucket is similar to those he has worn in the past, with his signature dual red, white, and blue zig-zags adorning each side. Lindgren again wears the nickname Alex Ovechkin gave him, “Ch Ch,” on either side of his chin, with the team’s Weagle logo sitting in between.
“Lindy was one of the things that I’d had on my mask since I came to Washington, and I kind of look back on it like, ‘Nobody’s really calling me that anyways.’ It’s always been Chuck,” Lindgren said last year. “I just don’t put too much emphasis on [the design], but finally this year I just said, Lindy is done, Ch Ch is the way we’re going this year.”
Lindgren’s pad, blocker, and glove setup has also been tweaked, although just by switching up the standout colors. He rocked primarily red and blue on his gear last season, but has gone with white this season.
Charlie Lindgren debuts new gear at Capitals informal skate
Lindgren struggled in his fourth season with the Capitals last season, playing in just 21 games, the least game action he has seen with the club in a single season. During those appearances, he went 9-8-3 with a 3.52 goals-against average, an .879 save percentage, and one shutout.
The Minnesota native will be slotted into the backup role again this year with the increasing emergence of Thompson as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. Lindgren, who was involved in trade rumors this summer, has two years remaining on the extension he signed with the Capitals near the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
