Goalie Tuukka Rask will almost certainly be back with the Bruins in 2013-14, but his backup will not.
Anton Khudobin signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes worth $800,000 on Friday, ending his successful stint as Boston’s second-stringer.
Despite appearing in just seven career games prior to this season, Khudobin was a pleasant surprise for the Bruins. The 27-year-old Russian went 9-4-1 with a 2.32 goals against average and .920 save percentage in 14 starts.
In Carolina, he will backup former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cam Ward, who has been the Hurricanes’ starter in net since 2006.
“Anton proved to be a very capable NHL backup for the Bruins last year,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “This solidifies an elite goaltending tandem for the Hurricanes.”
With Khudobin gone, the Bruins will likely turn backup duties over to Providence Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg, who was named the AHL’s most outstanding goaltender this season. Svedberg compiled a 37-8-2 record in his first season with the P-Bruins, ranking among the top five in the league in goals against average (2.17) and save percentage (.925).
The Canes also signed former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek to a one-year contract on Friday.
