Lindgren: 'I'm not going to be handed anything here'

BROSSARD - Antti Niemi and Charlie Lindgren both signed new contracts with the Canadiens earlier in 2018, and the result is that there will be some healthy competition for the backup role behind Carey Price this season.

Head coach Claude Julien said as much when he met the media following Saturday's on-ice sessions at training camp, noting that Niemi inking a one-year, $950,000 deal with Montreal was in no way a reflection of Lindgren's standing with the club.
"Yes, there's a battle. Even though we signed Niemi, if one of them is much better than the other, we'll always go with the better goalie," described Julien on Lindgren, who holds the distinction of being just the second Habs rookie to win his first five career games after Ken Dryden first accomplished the feat in 1970-71. "You can't say that Charlie Lindgren has missed his shot; on the contrary."
The Habs' bench boss admitted that Niemi is currently pencilled in for the No. 2 role behind Price after enjoying a stellar comeback season between the pipes in Montreal, but added that the American netminder would still be given his fair shot.
"That won't prevent Lindgren from staying in the race," declared Julien. "He still has a chance to prove himself and earn a spot."
Lindgren, who agreed to a three-year extension with the club taking him through the 2021-22 season, isn't taking anything for granted and knows he's got his work cut out for him if he wants to stay in the big leagues.
"It's the National Hockey League. Just because I signed a deal doesn't mean I'm entitled to anything," shared the Lakeville, MN native. "I know I said it last year: I have to work hard and earn the position. I'm not going to be handed anything here, and that's the way it should be.
"All I can control is my effort and attitude, and I intend to work hard and make a push for the team."

Another man fighting to stick around with the Canadiens is Laval native Simon Despres, who was extended a training camp invite in July after spending the 2017-18 campaign with the KHL's Bratislava Slovan.
Julien had plenty of accolades for the 27-year-old rearguard, pointing out that Despres demonstrated some impressive agility for a player of his stature, making for a nice combination of traits which could be a big help on the backend.
"Today, for example, he got the puck at the blue line and a guy was coming on him. He just faked a shot, took a step and walked around him. For a guy his size, that's pretty impressive. Guys that size don't usually move that quickly and are not as mobile as he is. He's shown some good attributes," praised Julien of the 6-foot-4, 233-pound Despres, who was picked 30th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. "That's why he was a high pick. We're going to give him an opportunity."

Kotkaniemi adjusting well
Elsewhere in the room, the Canadiens' third overall pick in 2018, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, was able to offer up a comparison between the level of play at rookie camp and main camp. To no one's surprise, the 18-year-old said that things are more intense with the big boys, but Kotkaniemi feels he's adjusting well to the elite level of play.
"The biggest thing is there's more speed and skill, and the guys are bigger. I need to be stronger in the corners," he explained. "For example, my linemate, [Nicolas] Deslauriers, is huge."
As would be expected, the Finnish youngster has been benefitting from the support and counsel of his linemates at camp, which has gone a long way towards easing the transition to the NHL pace.
"I'm getting a lot of advice all the time - from Deslauriers, and [Artturi Lehkonen] 'Arsi', he's Finnish," concluded Kotkaniemi. "He's given me advice all the time, it's helped me a lot."