The Montreal Canadiens placed Charles Hudon and Charlie Lindgren on waivers yesterday as they worked to reduce the NHL roster. Both have now cleared, and are free to report to the AHL.
Everyone on NHL waivers yesterday cleared.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 30, 2019
They have seen plenty of time in the minor leagues in recent years. Hudon got his first taste of AHL action at the end of the 2012-13 campaign, but didn’t turn pro until the 2014-15 season. He had performances of 57, 53, and 49 points over his three full years, respectively, getting a handful of NHL games during that time.
Lindgren has 118 regular-season games of AHL experience, and a four-game playoff series under his belt from his time with the St. John’s IceCaps. His AHL goals-against average sits at 2.92, with an .898 save percentage.
Hudon should get to play quite high in the Rocket lineup, and potentially with one of the organization’s top professional prospects, Jake Evans. It could help him rediscover the offensive game that he was able to show in Montreal in his rookie year.
Lindgren may not slot right back into the starting role he’s held for several years now. Primeau is the more promising prospect in need of the most seasoning, and should be Joël Bouchard’s top option. Even for the number-two role, Michael McNiven isn’t going to just step aside. The management staff will likely need to intervene in that case and assign one of the three to the ECHL, where the selected netminder will be able to see plenty of action.
If both Hudon and Lindgren get assisgned to the Rocket, the team will have 20 healthy players with NHL contracts, with Joël Teasdale and Noah Juulsen out of action with injury. Michael McCarron is also a candidate to join the club once healthy, but he will have to clear waivers as well to play in the minors.
