BRIGHTON, Mass. – It looks like the Bruins will have a different backup goaltender next season.
While Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he remains in contact with most of last season’s Bruins headed to free agency on July 1, he indicated that the team is “probably going in a different direction” from backup goalie Anton Khudobin.
“I think we’ll be filling some holes,” said Sweeney. “We’ve stayed in contact [with our free agents], but I think the goaltending one is probably going in a different direction at this point.”
Khudobin, 32, had his best season in the NHL for the Bruins last season while backing up Tuukka Rask, going 16-6-7 in 31 appearances with a 2.56 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. He played early and often while spelling Rask, including four games in a row in mid-November where he racked wins and helped point the Bruins toward a playoff spot they easily claimed last season.
It’s believed that the Bruins were ready to give Khudobin a raise from the $1.25 million he earned in each of the past two seasons, but that the Russian netminder is looking for a substantial raise. From Boston’s perspective, they certainly weren’t going to go much north of $2 million per season for a backup goaltender and there were questions about Khudobin’s ability to remain in tip-top shape if given a multi-year deal.
Instead, the Bruins now have a big void and probably don’t have the internal answers with Zane McIntyre as the only goalie even capable of being an NHL backup at this point. Instead, the Bruins will need a legit backup who can play 25-30 games and give Rask the ample physical and mental rest that he needs to stay fresh.
Sweeney knows it’s a key position as the Bruins ready to hit the free agent market this weekend and he’d prefer a veteran option with some backup experience.
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“It ranks right at the top of the list in terms of somebody that can...Last year Anton did a heck of a job,” admitted Sweeney, when asked how important NHL experience will be in a backup goaltender for next season. “We need to make sure we’re satisfied there because it’s a priority for us."
So who might be out there as options for the Black and Gold?
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The real high-end backups, such as Carter Hutton and Petr Mrazek, aren’t going to head to Boston where there’s an established No. 1 goalie in Rask. But there are some familiar names with NHL experience potentially available, such as Chad Johnson and Michael Hutchinson, or even Jonathan Bernier that could be a good fit.