The Dallas Stars signed free agent goaltender Braden Holtby to a one-year contract worth $2 million. This contract carries him through just the 2021-22 season.
HOLTS on, this just in ‼️
We have signed Braden Holtby to a 1-year contract through the 2021-22 season.
📝 https://t.co/ZW1MOl8IFS pic.twitter.com/ft87DgYMZF
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 28, 2021
Braden Holtby Signed With the Dallas Stars
Over his 11-year NHL career, Holtby suited up for the Washington Capitals and Vancouver Canucks. In that span, he accumulated 489 career appearances, including 479 starts. With the Canucks last season, he played 21 games and posted a record of 7-11-3. It stands as the only sub-.500 season of Holtby’s career, and his .889 save percentage also sits as a career-worst. That being said, it was also his first (and only) season outside of the Capitals organization.
His career record sits at 289-133-49 with a .915 save percentage and 2.58 GAA. Originally drafted in the fourth round, 93rd overall of the 2008 NHL draft by the Caps, the 31-year old looks to rebound from two consecutive below-average seasons.
What This Means for the Future
At the end of the day, its most likely that Holtby’s best days are behind him. That being said, many goaltenders of his caliber have transitioned into mentorship roles as backups. He won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2017-18, and brings 97 career playoff games of experience to the table. He can start a heavier workload if need be and carry the team through injury as its starter.
That being said, questions remain for who will hold the crease in Dallas now. Between Holtby, Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin, there’s plenty of experienced netminders to choose between. Not to mention, Jake Oettinger has one year left on his entry-level contract too. Dallas may not be done making moves at net, as otherwise they’ll have quite the glut come season’s start.
Dallas aims to rebound after missing the playoffs last season. Remember, only a season earlier they finished just two wins shy of a Stanley Cup championship. They added Ryan Suter on the blueline too, and Luke Glendening upfront. Clearly, the moves made set the team up for success today. They want to prove last season was a fluke, and get back on the path to a cup immediately. They own more than enough talent in goal after this signing, but may need to move one of their goalies out to clear cap space.
Main Photo:
VANCOUVER, BC – MAY 03: Goalie Braden Holtby #49 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save during NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena on April 16, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
