The Dallas Stars have a goaltending tandem they trust – and it doesn’t include veteran Anton Khudobin. Free agent addition Braden Holtby leads the team with ten appearances and has looked like his old self, posting a .927 save percentage and 2.30 GAA. Yet it is young Jake Oettinger who has been making headlines, recording a stunning .951 save percentage and 1.41 GAA in six games. In contrast, Khudobin is playing the worst hockey of his NHL career with an .837 save percentage and 3.73 GAA in seven appearances. While the Stars have been hot of late, currently riding a six-game winning streak, Khudobin has not played since November 18.
With Holtby and Oettinger having earned the NHL jobs and (though easy to forget) former starter Ben Bishop still trying to work his way back from a long-term knee injury, Khudobin has become expendable. However, despite his struggles, the Stars will not simply just waive the respected veteran, at least not yet. Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports that the team is actively shopping Khudobin in hopes of finding a trade partner.
While the Stars surely will not receive nearly the package they might have commanded for Khudobin just a couple years ago when he led the NHL with a .930 save percentage, the Stars still have incentive to search for a trade rather than keeping him for depth. The first is obvious; Khudobin may still have some value around the league. In fact, Marek states definitively that the Buffalo Sabres have expressed interest in the experienced netminder and there are certainly other teams that could also use help in net. With confidence in their current options, there is no reason for Dallas to pass up potential trade capital. However, Khudobin’s contract is another factor that the Stars need to manage. Simply waiving and demoting Khudobin only saves the team $1.075MM of the goaltender’s $3.33MM cap hit. That contract also carries an additional year. Dallas needs the space that could be opened up from moving Khudobin’s contract in its entirety, which means they will work to find a team with enough need in net to trade for the veteran. The next step would be to waive Khudobin and hope he is claimed; even if he is unclaimed the Stars will continue to shop Khudobin, who will have some extra transactional versatility should he clear.
One way or another, it seems like the Stars have come to the conclusion that they can benefit more from being rid of Khudobin than continuing to keep him around. At some point, it is likely that the veteran keeper will find a new home this season.
5th round draft pick sounds about right. Anything more might require say 25% (minimum) salary retention for a 4th round draft pick.
Pre-Season thought he would play better compared to YTD, but with Holtby and Jake Anton can be moved safely for the Stars.
They either need Salary retention or take back a bad contract.
If they take a bad one year deal, they can take on a bad contract. Taking a multi year deal in return would defeat the purpose of the trade. Khudobin obviously isn’t bringing much in return for us at this point but he has such a good recent track record that he isn’t a negative asset in a trade, especially to a team like Buffalo, Sens or Yotes.
I’d argue much of the same as far as salary retention.
Trade him for a late round pick or a prospect someone gave up on and be done with it.
Kuby likes the warmer weather, he will go to Zona willingly.
Wait, what would be his 4 team no-trade list? They may have to waive him to move him! LOL
Colorado
I don’t think so based on the fact that Francouz is healthy and playing rehab games in the AHL. If he was weeks away I’d agree with you. Otherwise I think maybe the Rangers if the Shesterkin injury is long-term. I don’t see an obvious fit right now though with Subban going to Buffalo and Wedgewood playing well in Arizona.
I grasp that the GM (or owner) decide where a player is traded to… beyond no-trade-lists etc.
IMO, any goalie who is having a bad year and on the trading block should look to franchises that have a solid Goalie Coaching Staff that have reinvigorated the careers of other goalies.