NHL Rumors: 3 Landing Spots For Braden Holtby

Saad Yousuf of The Athletic stated Braden Holtby is unlikely to re-sign with the Dallas Stars. This isn't a huge surprise as he still has lots of game left to give in his career at just age 32 and would be the definite backup goaltender making such money in Dallas.

The Stars have chosen their starting goaltender and Jake Oettinger has definitely earned it. He didn't start the season with the Stars but took over as the starting netminder soon after his arrival in Dallas. He went 30-15-1 in the regular season with a .914 save percentage (SV%) and almost single-handedly pulled the Stars past the Calgary Flames in Round 1 of the playoffs.

Holtby didn't have a bad season at all, in fact he revived his career behind a strong defensive team in the Stars after two seasons to forget in Washington and Vancouver. He finished the season with a .913 SV% and 2.78 goals against average (GAA) while being the go-to goaltender for a significant portion of the first half of 2021-22.

Holtby will have his fair share of suitors as he is a former Vezina Trophy winner, William M. Jennings Trophy winner, Stanley Cup winner, and a two-time All-Star. He will likely get a role on a team that will be using a tandem in net as that seems to be the way of many teams now. Let's look at three teams that could be on his radar.

Anaheim Ducks

News just broke of John Gibson being open to a trade as he doesn't want to spend any more time on a rebuilding team. His body language during last season indicated he was getting tired of losing and being hung out to dry. His numbers have taken a hit as they used to be elite year after year.

With Gibson expected to be moved this offseason, the Ducks are left with Anthony Stolarz for one more season at $950,000. The team will have more than enough money and can allow Holtby and Stolarz to share the net as they go through a rebuild. Holtby isn't necessarily chasing Cups as he has one already, but Anaheim is a place to actually play a significant amount of games.

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago is another place like Anaheim in which the team is going through a rebuild. They aren't going to bring in any top of the line goaltender to slow their rebuild, but a 1a or 1b goalie with the potential to still start 50 or so games can help a prospect along or get the team through what will be a tough season.

The Blackhawks have more than enough room in net as they traded away Marc-Andre Fleury at the trade deadline and Collin Delia and Kevin Lankinen are both unrestricted free agents.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are trying to come out of their rebuild as they will need a goaltender to help them do so. Holtby should be someone on their radar to sign on a short-term deal to share the net with up-and-comer Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He isn't ready to take on the starter role just yet, but more games and experience beside a veteran goaltender with lots of experience will do Luukkonen and the Sabres good.