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Calgary Flames: Five Goaltenders Who Would Make Flames Contenders

By Ken MacMillan

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 08: Goalie Jacob Markstrom (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 08: Goalie Jacob Markstrom (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Ben Bishop #30 and Anton Khudobin #35 of the Dallas Stars celebrate a 4-2 win against the Nashville Predators during the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Ben Bishop #30 and Anton Khudobin #35 of the Dallas Stars celebrate a 4-2 win against the Nashville Predators during the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

3. Ben Bishop/Anton Khudobin

Matt Murray had playoff success three years ago but Anton Khudobin’s has been far more recent. The Stars backup for most of the season, Khudobin was thrust into the spotlight when Ben Bishop was injured in the postseason.

Khudobin has shown to be up to the task and it should be no surprise. The Russian goaltender led the league in save percentage in the regular season. His .930 SV% in 30 games was the best in the bigs. His 2.57 GAA and .922 SV% have carried the Stars all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. He is going to get a long look for the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP if the Stars can win the Stanley Cup.

Khudobin has been in a platoon role for the past two seasons with the Dallas Stars and played a similar role for a year with the Boston Bruins before that. He started between 30 and 41 games each of those seasons and has had solid numbers each year. He is 34 years old so he won’t get top dollar on the free agent market, but a two or three year deal with a $4 million cap hit would likely entice him to join the Flames.

Getting a potential Conn Smythe winner who led the league in save percentage in the regular season would be a tremendous acquisition for Calgary.

Of course, it would make sense for the Stars to try and keep him. If they do, maybe they want to move out Ben Bishop who has three more years left on his contract that carries a cap hit just over $4.9 million. Bishop was runner-up for the Vezina Trophy just over a year ago and would be a great platoon-mate for Rittich as well.

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