Khudobin returns to Stars eyeing another 'chance to win'

The Stars have had some of the best goaltending in the NHL for the past two seasons, and they hope that will continue going forward after signing Anton Khudobin to a three-year contract.
Stars general manager Jim Nill announced the deal that averages $3.3 million for Khudobin on Friday.

Khudobin had the chance to study other offers from around the league on the first day of NHL free agency, so the Stars had to make sure to include the third year. Dallas now is committed to Khudobin, 34, and Ben Bishop, 33, for the next three seasons on guaranteed contracts.
While that might be a problem in three years, it allows the Stars to look at the 2020-21 season as a real contender. By bringing back the goaltending duo that has ranked second in GAA for the past two seasons -- and by bringing back the goalie in Khudobin who took the Stars to the Stanley Cup Final -- you can make the argument that Dallas right now has the best goaltending situation in the NHL.
"The last two years, our goaltending has been as good as anybody in the league," Nill said. "We're pretty fortunate to be in the NHL and have two No. 1 goalies. They've proven that. To have success in this league, you have to have goaltending. When you don't have it, you notice it right away. I'm very confident that we have one of the top tandems in the NHL."
And, really, they're doing this at a reasonable cost. Bishop has three years left at $4.9 million in cap hit, and is on the books for actual salary of $3.5 million. Khudobin will have a cap hit of $3.3 million while making $2.5 million next season and $3.75 million in the 2021-22 and 2022-23. That means the Stars have committed $8.2 million in cap hit (and even less in money) to having two very good goalies.
Dallas two seasons ago was second in goals against average (2.44) and save percentage (.923) to the Islanders. Last season, they were second to Boston in GAA (2.52) and save percentage (.920). Bishop was a Vezina finalist two seasons ago with a 27-15-4 record, a 1.92 GAA and a .934 save percentage.

Last season, Khudobin led the NHL in save percentage at .930 and was third in GAA at 2.22.
Those are impressive numbers. Just as important, both are well-liked leaders in the dressing room.
"They are quality guys, their teammates believe in them, their teammates like to play for them, and they play for their teammates," Nill said. "As an organization, we thought it was very important to do what we could do to keep this pair together. They play for each other, and that's important."
Khudobin had surgery on Wednesday to deal with numbness in his hand. The recovery is about four weeks and he's expected to be ready when the season starts. The fact that he said he was dealing with the numbness when he was playing for the Stanley Cup says something about his dedication to the team.
"Two fingers, they are numb and they are weak," Khudobin said when talking about the injury. "I had to figure out how to hold the stick, how to play the puck. I couldn't put too much power on the shot, so I had to figure out how to play with the defensemen when I had to pass the puck. But other than that, everything was good. I had another three fingers, so I played just with three fingers."
Both Nill and Khudobin said getting the third year on the contract was the key. Khudobin wanted to go out and see what kind of offers he could get in free agency after having the performance of his life in the playoffs. At 34, and as a career back-up goalie, Khudobin needed to capitalize on this opportunity to get the best contract of his career, and he has done that. But he also said he needed to be on a team with a chance to win, and said the Stars fill that bill as well.

"I told my agent] that if we're not going to seal the deal in Dallas, he knew where I want to go," Khudobin said. "I didn't want to go just for money or for years, I wanted a team that had a chance to win. That's it. This signing here means we still have a chance."
With the uncertainty of the coming season, Nill said having consistent goaltending is a big part of that chance. The NHL is looking at Jan. 1 as a potential starting date for the 2020-21 season, and that means that the schedule could be condensed.
"It's a great position to be in when you know you can put either one in net," Nill said. "As everyone knows, we have very tough travel being down here in Dallas. On top of that, depending on when the seasons starts next year, it's going to be a very condensed schedule. There will be a lot of back-to-backs. We talked about that even in the bubble, you're going to have to have good goaltending in this next season coming up.
"It's going to be a race right to the finish and it's going to be important to have two goalies who can step in at any time and get you a win."
With Khudobin and Bishop both having three years, that could make it a little tougher for 21-year-old Jake Oettinger to take the next step in his career, but Nill said he wants Oettinger playing as much as he can right now, so he will definitely be the No. 1 goalie in the AHL. Plus, after getting experience as a backup in the playoffs, Oettinger gives the team even more depth in case of an injury in goal.
And that means that Dallas really does have one of the most important positions in the game covered when it comes to being ready to try to win right now.
"I know everything here now," Khudobin said. "I know what to expect."
And those expectations are going to be pretty high.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
[Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.