Deep impact: New additions Khudobin, Comeau bring off-ice assets to Stars

Anton Khudobin could be a real secret weapon this season.
The back-up goalie not only could add some important depth in net, but he's clearly becoming a favorite inside the locker room. A free spirit who always seems to have a smile on his face, Khudobin is keeping things loose and making everyone feel comfortable.
"We do play a game, and he's one of the guys that recognizes that," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. "His energy and enthusiasm, and his love and passion of the game is infectious."

While the Stars didn't get the big signings in free agency during the summer, they might have added to the off-ice intangibles with the three veterans they signed.
Roman Polak has looked steady in training camp and offers a more physical element to a skilled group of defensemen. Blake Comeau is a veteran winger who can play fast two-way hockey -- and might be the perfect example for young players in Montgomery's system. And Khudobin has been a uniting force not only for Russian teammates Alexander Radulov, Valeri Nichushkin and Denis Gurianov, but also the entire team.
"He's a fun guy," said Radulov. "And he's a good goalie."

Khudobin and Radulov have known each other since they were 15 and playing together for Russia's Under-16 National Team. It was Radulov who gave Kudobin the nickname "Dobby," which is now displayed on the goalie's mask alongside the character from the "Harry Potter" movies.
In true Khudobin form, he said he has never seen the movies or read the books, but likes the character anyway. That's the kind of easy dialogue the 32-year-old brings to the rink each day.
"I try to have fun," Khudobin said. "If you enjoy it, then you will enjoy everything, all of the processes and steps, and then it is fun for everybody."
Even though it's just preseason, that philosophy is working for Khudobin. He, Radulov, Nichushkin and Gurianov have been on several adventures and documented them on social media. Nichushkin is returning from the KHL, where he played the past two seasons, and Gurianov is trying to make the jump to the NHL from the AHL, and both seem to be helped by the support of their fellow countrymen.
"And it's not just the Russians," Khudobin said. "It's everybody working together."
Comeau is having a similar impact. The 32-year-old winger is setting a great example with his play on the ice and his work ethic off. Montgomery was coaching at the University of Denver while Comeau was playing with the Colorado Avalanche, so he watched a lot of Comeau on television.

"He's just someone where every night, even when he doesn't have his 'A game,' you're getting a 'B game.' You never get a 'C game,' " Montgomery said. "I term players that are really smart hockey players and 200-foot hockey players like him as glue guys. They're a security blanket for a coach.
"You just put them anywhere and you know the job is going to get done."
In a recent practice, Comeau put hard checks on his teammates against the boards during drills. That's something you don't always see in the NHL.
"I'm a fan of that, especially right now when we're trying to increase our competitive levels," Montgomery said. "How hard he works and how hard he competes -- that's why he was such a valuable asset to get in the offseason."
Khudobin played his first full game in goal Monday against Minnesota and Comeau scored his first goal, playing on a wing with Radek Faksa and Tyler Pitlick -- the Stars' potential third line for the regular season -- so they had a chance to show they can provide a positive impact on the ice, as well.
And as much as they aren't the headline-grabbing free-agent signings that the Stars saw in the summer of 2017, they definitely could have a significant impact of their own.
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.