The Montreal Canadiens have signed free-agent goaltender Charlie Lindgren to a two-year two-way contract, the team announced Wednesday.
"We are very happy to have reached an agreement with Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren was in our mind the best free-agent goaltender available coming out of the U.S. college level," general manager Marc Bergevin said. "He made the decision to join the Canadiens organization and will complete the season with the team. Lindgren is a top goaltender coming out of college, and becomes an excellent prospect for our organization, bringing some depth at this position."
Some people asking why the #habs would keep Lindgren with the team now and burn a year. Would think it was part of the agreement they made.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) March 30, 2016
Lindgren had an outstanding season with the St. Cloud State Huskies. He went 30-9-1 in 40 games, leading the NCAA in wins, saves, and shutouts, while also finishing third with a .925 save percentage and fourth with a 2.13 goals-against average.
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The Nashville Predators say they expected Harvard standout Jimmy Vesey to sign with them before the trade deadline, but the prospect's representatives reportedly told the club the opposite.
The Predators were told of Vesey's decision a few days before the deadline, "in order for the team to conduct business unrelated to him," a league source told ESPN's Joe McDonald.
Nashville general manager David Poile and assistant GM Paul Fenton both claim that Vesey told the Predators he would sign with them prior to the deadline, and Fenton said Tuesday that the team changed its deadline plans thinking Vesey would sign there.
McDonald's league source said Wednesday that the Predators should have approached the deadline knowing Vesey wouldn't be joining them, and that if there was any miscommunication between the two sides, it was "cleared up" before Feb. 29.
Vesey's reps were surprised by Poile's insinuation Monday night that the 22-year-old "received bad advice and bad counsel," according to the report.
The Predators' 2012 third-round pick informed Nashville he would not be signing with them earlier this week, instead opting for unrestricted free agency beginning on Aug. 15.
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Jonathan Bernier has made amends after his hilarious spitting incident.
A Tampa Bay Lightning ice worker was on the wrong end of a loogie hurled by the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Monday night, an event that was thankfully caught on camera.
Following the Maple Leafs' 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Bernier admitted things could have been worse.
"Obviously I felt really bad. I actually met the guy after and gave him a stick," Bernier told TSN's Mark Masters. "I couldn't see the guy because the astronaut was dancing next to me. The good thing he said was it wasn't his first time.
"Thank God it didn't hit him in the face, though."
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Here's what postseason matchups look like after play after March 29:
| Team | Team | Season Series |
|---|---|---|
| A1 Lightning | W1 Islanders | 1-1-0 |
| A2 Panthers | A3 Bruins | 3-1-0 Bruins |
| M1 Capitals | W2 Flyers | 2-0-1 Capitals |
| M2 Rangers | M3 Penguins | 3-1 Penguins |
| Team | Points | Games Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Islanders | 91 | 7 |
| 2. Flyers | 87 | 7 |
| Red Wings | 87 | 5 |
| Devils | 82 | 5 |
| Hurricanes | 82 | 5 |
| Team | Team | Season Series |
|---|---|---|
| C1 Stars | W2 Wild | 4-1 Stars |
| C2 Blues | C3 Blackhawks | 2-2 |
| P1 Kings | W1 Predators | 2-1 Kings |
| P2 Ducks | P3 Sharks | 3-1 Ducks |
| Team | Points | Games Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| Predators | 91 | 5 |
| Wild | 87 | 5 |
| Avalanche | 82 | 5 |
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