Coffee, Foam Rollers & Big Saves: Capitals Goalies Kuemper & Lindgren Share Tight Bond

Washington Capitals goaltenders Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren have formed a brotherhood over their first year in D.C.

ARLINGTON, V.A. -- After signing with the Washington Capitals on the opening day of 2022 NHL Free Agency, Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren both pulled out their cell phones, shooting texts to one another to share congrats and introductions.

From there, things took off.

"We just clicked right away," Lindgren said.

Kuemper inked a five-year deal to take over as the starter, while Lindgren signed on for three years as the backup to replace Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek. Amid the overhaul, the two formed a fast friendship over the phone were already close and well-acquainted before even meeting in person.

"Great right from the start," Kuemper said. "It's awesome."

Both arrived in D.C. in mid-September before training camp and picked up right where they left off. As goalies, the two were among the first on the ice for work with goaltending coach Scott Murray, and that meant a lot of early mornings, several cups of coffee and off-ice workouts and extra time in the gym.

That, and their similar easy-going personalities, helped them become fast friends. And after just three weeks together, the two felt like they'd been a team for a long time.

"It's crucial," Lindgren said of forming a tight bond with his goalie partner. "We spend a lot of time together. The goaltending position, you spend a lot of time stretching, so we do a lot of that, just kind of BS-ing in the morning. Sitting on some foam rollers, hanging out, talking... it's huge to have a really good partnership with a goalie partner, and Darcy and I, we certainly have that."

Kuemper agreed, adding that having a confidant and close friend who understands the abstracts of the goaltending position makes the job easier.

"It's awesome. You can be there to support each other because you're the only two goalies on the team," Kuemper said. "No one really knows what it's like to be a goalie, so to have each other to bounce things off of and just hanging out is great."

Off the ice, Kuemper and Lindgren try to get dinners together on the road, and their dogs, Rogue and Riley, have also become close friends. Their wives, Sydney and Mikkayla, often get the dogs together and take them for hikes, and the Kuempers also dog-sat for the Lindgrens over Christmas.

"They're best buddies. They just love being together," Lindgren said. "Riley and Rogue, me and Darcy, I think it's a couple of friendships that have really blossomed throughout the year. Certainly, Darcy and I, we've become really good buddies, and our pups have, too."

As the starter this season, Kuemper's taken on a heavier workload with 52 games under his belt. Meanwhile, Lindgren has played 29 games and also led the charge to help the team surge in December when Kuemper was dealing with an upper-body injury and concussion-like symptoms.

"It's been great. Being able to have someone there to support you is really important," Kuemper said of Lindgren. "I think we've done a good job of supporting each other, having each other's ear whenever we need to talk about something and just cheering each other on. That's been awesome."

Lindgren agreed and also said that he has been able to learn a lot from the 2022 Stanley Cup champion.

"We just like to hang out and spend time together and talk. I can call him a really good buddy. He's someone that I can talk to a lot and we obviously see each other at the rink, spend a lot of time together as goalie partners," Lindgren said. "But it's been fun to watch him as a goalie and learn from him because he's awesome at what he does."

Lindgren also joked that Kuemper is one of the more even-keeled goalie partners he's had in his still-young career.

"I've worked with a lot of wack jobs," Lindgren laughed, adding, "Can't say enough really good things about [Kuemper]."

As the two approach the end of what has been a difficult year, they still value their friendship and believe that they and the Capitals still have a lot to offer.

As for Kuemper, he's looking forward to seeing more from Lindgren after the 29-year-old's first full year up at the NHL level.

"We've had a great relationship ever since we signed here... he's great. He's a lot of fun to be around and works really hard," Kuemper said. "It's been fun pushing each other."