Anton Khudobin rips NHL goalie: ".880 save percentage is unacceptable"

Former Dallas Stars netminder Anton Khudobin has never been afraid to speak his mind, and his latest comments about the state of NHL goaltending are making waves.

During a recent appearance on a Russian podcast, Khudobin was asked about how the goalie position has evolved compared to 15 years ago.

One of the hosts remarked that the league once felt full of elite netminders, but today it's frustrating to watch so many goalies struggle. Khudobin agreed, and didn't hold back.

Anton Khudobin says too many NHL goalies are posting weak save percentages

Khudobin pointed to his own experience in the 2015-16 season, when he was sent down to the AHL despite holding a .909 save percentage.

"Now I look, even in the NHL, out of the 32 starting goalies, at least 12 to 15 of them are sitting around an .880 save percentage," he said. "And I think that's a really weak number."

Throughout his 260-game NHL career, the veteran netminder held a .916 save percentage, a figure that would rank among the league's better goaltenders even today. His critique shines a light on just how much standards for the position have shifted.

As The Hockey News highlighted, Khudobin's words reflect growing concerns about defensive systems, scoring trends, and whether teams are doing enough to support their goaltenders.

For comparison, current Dallas Stars starter Jake Oettinger owns a .912 career save percentage through 251 NHL games.

However, he posted just a .909 mark last season, tied for ninth best among goalies with at least 35 appearances.

While that number remains solid, it also shows how league-wide goaltending has slipped compared to the era Khudobin remembers.

Personally, I think Khudobin has a point. When a save percentage that once got you demoted is now considered above average, it's fair to question how the game has changed and whether standards for goaltending should be higher.