Will Anders Lindback Ever Play For The Dallas Stars Again?

Anders Lindback was signed by the Dallas Stars on July 1st, 2014 at a bit of a bargain of $925,000 on a one year deal and was expected by many to be the long-awaited solution to the Dallas Stars backup goalie problem. Clearly, he has not been.

He had experienced a rough season with the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to signing with the Stars. He had served as their backup until regular starter Ben Bishop broke his wrist with the postseason just days away. Lindback was forced into an awkward situation after only playing 23 games for the Lightning in the regular season and posting an 8-12-2 record, along with a .851 save percentage and a 2.90 goals against average. He faced an altogether superior Montreal Canadiens team that sent him into a tailspin at 0-3-0 and two substitutions throughout two of the four games. He ended with a .881 save percentage and a 3.91 goals against average, his worst stats up to then.

Coming to Dallas was looked on as a symbol of rebirth and new chances for both Anders Lindback and the Dallas Stars, who had not experienced the days of quality and depth-filled netminding since the days of Kari Lehtonen serving as the backup. Lindback performed rather modestly in training camp while battling the other contender for the Stars netminding job, Jussi Rynnas. Lindback won the job after Rynnas ultimately faltered in the preseason and Lindback played quite well when he was called upon.

But now things now things are not looking too good for the 6-foot-6, 26-year-old Swede. After two games started, he has an 0-2-0 rating and a .850 save percentage and a 4.58 goals against average. Head coach Lindy Ruff expressed his concern for Lindback’s play after his most recent game against the New York Islanders where he gave up 6 goals on 28 shots. These are some of the worst numbers of any Dallas Stars backup goalie to start a season and Stars fans have taken to social media to vent their frustrations. They are begging for Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars management to drop Lindback as soon as possible and sign free agents Martin Brodeur or Tomas Vokoun. Both players have a sort of Tim Thomas-esque feeling to them being in their late 30’s or early 40’s and not having a place to turn to but still trying to avoid retirement.

So, will the Dallas Stars cut their losses with Lindback and dive into a new contract with a rusty and aging netminder?

The answer is most assuredly no. Lindback has not performed to the best of his abilities yet, but he will soon enough. Jim Nill also saw what happened when he gambled Dan Ellis away in exchange for an old and pitiful shell of the former Tim Thomas. After putting up average numbers in Florida, Thomas came to Dallas and looked like it was the last place he wanted to be in. He played sluggishly and never lived up to what Nill thought he was receiving.

With that escapade in the past, Jim Nill is not going to take the same chance, especially with 71 games left to be played.

But Anders Lindback will be given a few more chances. It could very well be that he just has not found his groove yet. His two losses also came in two games where the Stars defense, which has not performed well all year, did not create a threatening presence on the ice. Even though the defense left him vulnerable a few times, he is still a goaltender and his job is to make saves and stop opportunities. If he still ceases to produce quality starts after his next three or four games, then Nill may choose to act.

Even if Jim Nill’s hand is forced and he has to go for a new backup, the free agent market and trading block are the last places he will look. The Texas Stars are currently at 4-2-2 with the help coming from Jack Campbell and Jussi Rynnas in the crease. His first action would be to call one of these two up.

Anders Lindback is not done in Dallas just yet, and there is a very strong possibility that he will start in one of the upcoming three-game homestand matchups. After starting Kari Lehtonen on a back-to-back schedule Friday and Saturday, the Stars will be looking for some help that will provide Kari with a bit of a break. The Stars take on the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, the Nashville Predators who Lindback has already lost once to on Thursday, and the red hot San Jose Sharks on Saturday. All three teams have decent offensive attacks and distinguished defenses.

The Stars will need their two-faced offense to show up on a good and fast-paced note for all three games this week, but Anders Lindback will need to be ready for a call. If he gets it, taking down one of these top-level teams could be just what he needs to get his confidence back on track and his performance in the right frame of mind.

Dan Ellis gave up eight goals in his first two starts last year with the Stars after Kari Lehtonen’s injury in the infant stages of the 2013-2014 regular season. With Lehtonen still out, Ellis was put in net against the San Jose Sharks, who had not lost a game and sat at 6-0-0. Ellis came up with 32 of 35 saves and pulled off a 4-4 record to finish his time in Dallas.

Could Anders Lindback pull the same stunt? We’ll see this week.

Leave your comments and questions below, and as always, thanks for reading! Go Stars.