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Habs sign Lindgren, calling him the ‘top goaltender coming out of college’

Tommy Novak

Minnesota’s Tommy Novak, right, looks for an opening to score with St. Cloud State’s goalie Charlie Lindgren defending during the second period of a college hockey game in Minneapolis, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. (Kyndell Harkmess/Star Tribune via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGAZINES OUT; TWIN CITIES LOCAL TELEVISION OUT

AP

St. Cloud State goalie Charlie Lindgren has bypassed his senior year to sign a two-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

“Lindgren was in our mind the best free agent goaltender available coming out of the US college level,” said Habs GM Marc Bergevin in a release. “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.”

Lindgren, 22, went 30-9-1 with a .925 save percentage for the Huskies this season. He told the St. Cloud Times that there were “10-15 teams” interested in him.

“The first thing is the best opportunity,” Lindgren said. “Where do you see yourself having the best path to the NHL?”

After choosing the Canadiens, he’ll now compete with the club’s other goaltending prospects like Zach Fucale, Michael McNiven, Hayden Hawkey, and Mike Condon.

Carey Price, 28, is signed through 2017-18.

Update:

Ben Scrivens will be placed on waivers at noon today and will not travel with the team on its trip to Florida. A pending unrestricted free agent, his career with the Habs is presumably over.

Scrivens’ NHL career would seem to be in jeopardy, too. After being traded to Montreal in December, the 29-year-old went 5-8-0 with a .906 save percentage, failing to grasp the opportunity that he was granted due to Carey Price’s injury.