Veteran Goalie Anton Khudobin Retires

Veteran Goalie Anton Khudobin Calls It a Career After 14 NHL Seasons

Veteran goaltender Anton Khudobin, affectionately known as «Dobby,» has officially announced his retirement, closing the curtain on a 14-season NHL journey that included stints with six teams and a memorable run to the Stanley Cup Final.

A Journey Defined by Resilience and Key Moments

Khudobin entered the NHL as the 206th pick in the 2004 Draft by the Minnesota Wild and made his debut in 2010. Over his career, he played for the Wild, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, and Chicago Blackhawks.

His most significant contributions came with the Dallas Stars (2018–22), where he made 112 appearances (102 starts) and posted a 2.54 GAA with a .917 save percentage—becoming a cornerstone in their goaltending depth.

But Khudobin will forever be remembered for his heroic performance during the 2020 Stanley Cup “bubble” playoffs. Granted the starter’s role, he carried the Stars to the Finals with a 14–10 record, 2.69 GAA, and .917 save percentage over 25 games in the postseason.

His final NHL appearance came during the 2022–23 season with Chicago, after which he spent 2023–24 split between Russia’s KHL and VHL before sitting out 2024–25.

Why This Matters for Bettors and Fans

Depth Dynamics Shift: Losing a reliable veteran like Khudobin leaves gaps in goaltending rosters. Teams that previously leaned on him must now seek depth, influencing prop and backup goalie markets.
Legacy Resonance: His 2020 bubble run remains a storytelling touchstone in Stars lore. Nostalgia-driven narratives could influence sentimental bets, particularly in Stars-related props.
International Movement Insight: Khudobin’s move to the KHL/VHL and subsequent retirement exemplifies how NHL vets transition overseas—offering bettors new angles in emergent international betting markets.

Takeaways for Bettors

Insight	Betting Implication
Reassess Goalie Props	Teams formerly backed by Khudobin must redistribute workload. Watch preseason roster moves to identify emerging options that offer value in goals-against and win props.
Emotional Bias Alert	While his legacy provides narrative heat, avoid overvaluing emotionally charged markets like commemorative or franchise-driven prop bets.
Explore Cross-League Markets	Khudobin’s overseas transition highlights growing fluidity between leagues—tracking similar transitions may reveal untapped betting value.