Anton Khudobin
Number: 35
Age: 36
Birthplace: Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 195 pounds
2021-22 stats: 3-4-1, 3.63 GAA, .879 save percentage
Contract: One year remaining at a cap hit of $3.33 million.
Video: DAL@OTT: Khudobin reaches back to stymie Norris
Performance evaluation
Khudobin was caught up in the goalie shuffle and a hip injury last season, and ended up really struggling. With Braden Holtby grabbing the No. 1 goalie job out of training camp, and then Jake Oettinger After taking over Holby was hurt, Khudobin never really found his stride. He cleared waivers in December and was sent to the AHL, where he went 2-4-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .903 save percentage. He was shut down in March and had hip surgery, which ended his season.
For the year, Khudobin posted a 3-4-1 record with a 3.63 GAA and .879 save percentage in the NHL, which GM Jim Nill attributed to the fact that he was never really healthy.
Video: DAL@DET: Khudobin blanks Red Wings
Expectations for 2022-23
Khudobin is back working out in Frisco, and the belief is that he will be ready for training camp. But once again, the fact that there are three goalies will not be the easiest situation for him.
Jake Oettinger has taken over No. 1 status and looks like the goalie of the future. Scott Wedgewood Signed a two-year, one-way contract at $1 million and seems to have the inside track on the backup goalie position. He’s cheaper and was 3-1-3 as a backup for the Stars last season That seems to fit a team that could be close to the cap and likely will lean on Oettinger.
So, the best situation might be that Khudobin plays well in the preseason and possibly gets traded before the regular season starts. If not, there is a chance one of the two goalies will have to go through waivers and head to the AHL or that the team will carry three goalies again – but the guess is they don’t want to juggle that headache.
Khudobin is 36, but he was a playoff hero in 2020 and posted some of the best numbers in the league at 2.22 and .930 during the regular season that year, so there are many who believe he can still be a very good NHL goalie if he is healthy.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
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