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5 free agents the Blackhawks can sign to get back to the playoffs

By Griffin Youngs

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 17: Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville and center Jonathan Toews (19) during the third period during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild on December 17, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Blackhawks won 4-1. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 17: Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville and center Jonathan Toews (19) during the third period during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild on December 17, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Blackhawks won 4-1. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 19: Anton Khudobin #35 of the Boston Bruins stretches during the warm-up prior to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round in the 2018 Stanley Cup play-offs at the Air Canada Centre on April 19, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anton Khudobin
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 19: Anton Khudobin #35 of the Boston Bruins stretches during the warm-up prior to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round in the 2018 Stanley Cup play-offs at the Air Canada Centre on April 19, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anton Khudobin /

4. Anton Khudobin

Last season, goaltender Corey Crawford missed the final half of the season with vertigo symptoms, and that was the dagger in the Blackhawks’ season. Chicago burned through goalie after goalie and just couldn’t find anything to keep them afloat. They even went so far as to bring in emergency goaltender Scott Foster at the end of one of their games, who made seven saves and closed the show in one of the best stories of the season. But feel-good story aside, this team is in serious trouble with Crawford bailing them out, and they need a viable option to replace him if he gets injured.

Anton Khudobin was the backup goaltender for the Boston Bruins behind Tuukka Rask this season, and posted by far one of his best seasons to date with a .913 save percentage in 31 games played. Rask has always been a feast-or-famine goaltender, and having Khudobin as an option to plug the leaks was one of the reasons the Bruins were able to have as much success as they did last season. Toward the end of the season, when Rask struggled, there were some calls to make Khudobin the starter for some big game down the stretch. He delivered in key points, but Rask kept the starting job.

At 32 years old, Khudobin has reached his ceiling as a solid backup goaltender rather than bonafide starter, but that’s exactly what the Blackhawks need. Unless Crawford’s health deteriorates, the Blackhawks will have their starter for a long time. It’s when Crawford needs a rest or is injured that they need a guy like Khudobin to step in and give them a chance to win games.

As usual, it’s a weak goalie market this year. While Khudobin is one of the better options available, he should still fit into the Blackhawks price range without too serious of a bidding war. Their concern should be if the Bruins re-sign him before free agency comes into effect, and it’s very possible they could. If he does make it to July 1, the Blackhawks will need to waste no time.

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