Blackhawks: Anton Khudobin should start every game to end the year

The Chicago Blackhawks went on the road to the nation’s capital on Thursday and took on the Washington Capitals. Of course, when you play them, you get to play a team loaded with superstars like Alex Ovechkin, Niklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Washington isn’t as dominant as they were a few years ago but they are still a talented team that can beat you badly. They likely won’t make the playoffs this year but they are a bubble team that still believes in themselves.

They showed the Blackhawks why in this one as they beat them by a final score of 6-1. The big story from this game is the fact that Anton Khudobin made his season debut and it was also his Blackhawks debut.

Khudobin didn’t have a good time as he gave up six goals on 28 shots. The first goal he gave up was on a play where he handed the puck over to Capitals forward Connor Sheary who slid it right into the empty cage. That is tanking at its finest.

Anton Khudobin didn’t have a good Chicago Blackhawks debut on Thursday.

He now has a goals-against average of 6.00 and a save percentage of .786 through one game played this season. Obviously, those numbers will get better if he plays more this year but things are not off to a good start.

That was Chicago’s 71st game of the season meaning they have nine more. To be honest, Khudobin should start in every single one of them. He is the worst goalie on the roster now and gives them the worst chance to win.

Chicago needs a guy like that in the net with 11 to go. They currently have the third-worst record in the league and they would like to finish with the worst record in the league.

If they finish at number 32, that will give them the highest odds at the draft lottery. If they were to win the lottery, they would earn the right to select Regina Pats superstar Connor Bedard. He is going to be a game-breaking NHL talent right away and the Hawks would love to have him.

They would also have the best odds to land the second overall pick if they didn’t win the top prize. Adam Fantilli is going to be the second overall pick and he is amazing in his own right.

When you finish last, you also ensure that you won’t drop lower than third because of the lottery. This is a very deep draft class so a good player will be selected third overall.

Khudobin has had a really nice NHL career and it included some good runs with some good teams. He just isn’t there anymore at 36 years old but the Blackhawks could have one more mission for him.