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Longtime Dallas Stars' goaltender announces his retirement
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

One of the most beloved backup goalies in Dallas Stars history has officially hung up the pads, and fans everywhere are feeling the nostalgia hit hard.

Anton Khudobin, 39, has announced his retirement from professional hockey after a 17-year career in the NHL and a final season overseas.

While he played for six NHL teams over his career, including the Wild, Bruins, Hurricanes, Ducks, and Blackhawks, it was with the Dallas Stars that he became a fan favourite.

And it wasn't just because of his colorful personality or quirky interviews.

Anton Khudobin's magical run with the Dallas Stars still lives in fans' memories

Khudobin joined the Dallas Stars in 2018 and quickly earned the love of the fanbase with his effort, energy, and trademark smile.

But it was during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, played inside the Edmonton bubble, that Khudobin became a legend in Texas.

With Ben Bishop injured, Khudobin stepped in and posted a .917 save percentage through 25 games, carrying Dallas all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

"We're not going home,"

He famously shouted that in the postgame locker room after eliminating Vegas in the Conference Final.

It was the kind of performance that made fans believe anything was possible.

Khudobin stayed with Dallas until 2023, finishing his Stars career with 62 wins and countless highlight-reel stops.

In his retirement statement, Khudobin said he plans to stay in hockey and pursue a future in management.

Indeed, he told Russian reporters that while he is done playing, he is not done with Hockey as a whole.

I still remember the emotion of that 2020 playoff run, it felt like the whole city was behind him.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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