In the final game for the Ottawa Senators before their Christmas break against the Edmonton Oilers, the Senators received a major blow. Goaltender Linus Ullmark suffered an upper body injury that caused him not to return to play in the second period.
The Senators falling 3-1 to the Oilers and losing Ullmark would ruin the holiday spirit. Leevi Merilainen would take over for Ullmark and earned the loss.
At 22 years old, Merilainen could have immense pressure to take over for Ullmark if he isn't ready to play, and the Senators still have Anton Forsberg dealing with an injury since Dec. 14. If the Senators need a goaltender, one former Dallas Stars hero could be an option.
Anton Khudobin could be an option for Senators if Ullmark's injury puts him out for period of time
This past Monday, Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Citizen said that it's "anybody's guess" when Ullmark will be ready to return in goal for the Senators. If Ullmark's return is unknown, former Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin could be an option.
Although Khudobin last played an NHL game on March 23, 2023, the 38-year-old hasn't retired from hockey. In 2023-24, Khudobin played 11 games in the VHL with the Sokol Krasnoyarsk, where he recorded a 2.29 goals against average and .929 save percentage. Khudobin also played five games in the KHL with the Sibir Novosibirsk and recorded a 2.81 goals against average and .900 save percentage.
From 2009-2018, Khudobin had played for the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks, but wasn't a full-time starter. When Khudobin joined the Stars in 2018, he and Ben Bishop formed a dynamic duo, but it was in 2020 when Khudobin became a Stars hero.
Khudobin led the NHL with a .930 save percentage in the 2019-20 regular season. However, it was in the Bubble during the 2020 playoffs where Khudobin immortalized himself in Stars history. After Bishop had dealt with a torn meniscus, that led to Khudobin starting for the Stars.
With Bishop out, Khudobin would go on to start 24 of the Stars' 27 playoff games in 2020. Khudobin recorded a 2.69 goals against average and .917 save percentage. The Stars reached the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals with Khudobin starting in between the pipes. Khudobin's magical goaltending run was a key reason the Stars made it so far. Despite the Stars losing the 2020 Stanley Cup, Khudobin's run from the Bubble will never be forgotten by the Stars and their fans.
After losing in the Finals, Khudobin started 32 of the Stars' 56 games in the 2020-21 season, where he recorded a 2.54 save percentage and .905 save percentage. Khudobin's 2021-22 season was a brutal one with the Stars after he went 3-4-1 with a 3.63 goals against average and .879 save percentage. Khudobin played one game for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022-23 season, but allowed in six goals.
Although the final two seasons of his NHL career went rough, 2020 will forever be memorable for Khudobin. If Ullmark's return in anybody's guess and with Forsberg also dealing with an injury, Khudobin is a quality veteran candidate if the Senators want to look for an option with injuries at the helm in goal.