Blackout Dallas
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Two options to resolve the Dallas Stars goaltending conundrum

By Caleb Nunn

VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 20: Goalie Braden Holtby #49 of the Vancouver Canucks during NHL hockey action against the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Arena on January 20, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 20: Goalie Braden Holtby #49 of the Vancouver Canucks during NHL hockey action against the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Arena on January 20, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Stars adding Braden Holtby created a crowded locker room, where three NHL-caliber goalies awkwardly occupy space for two. Stars fans have a ton of questions as training camp gets under way.

Blackout Dallas has two solutions to the Dallas Stars goaltending log-jam.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 27: Ben Bishop #30 of the Dallas Stars looks on during the first period of the game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on February 27, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 27: Ben Bishop #30 of the Dallas Stars looks on during the first period of the game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on February 27, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Ben Bishop to LTIR

The Dallas Stars should place Ben Bishop on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to start the season. Making the move drops Bishop’s cap hit and gives him more time to recover from knee surgery. Bishop’s surgery was the result of a meniscus injury suffered during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff bubble. Bishop missed all of the 2020-21 season, which resulted in the emergence of Jake Oettinger. Oettinger, 22, posted a 2.36 GAA and .911 SV% in 24 appearances with the Dallas Stars last season.

Bishop returning mid-season is likely in the LTIR scenario. A mid-season return provides the Dallas Stars with enough time to evaluate Holtby, Anton Khudobin, and Oettinger, with Oettinger likely beginning the season at AHL-Texas. Bishop on LTIR also provides Dallas with some financial stability and extra depth for the new season. Of course, we are assuming Holtby makes the Stars roster out of camp.

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