But if you dig a little deeper, there's some logic involved in this jagged path, and there's some hope that maybe it can all work out in the end.
The Stars started the year with Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin under contract. Bishop missed most of last season with a knee injury and Khudobin struggled with different ailments as he tried to take up the slack. While Jake Oettinger looked good at times, the team felt he might not have the experience to make a run at the playoffs, so they added Braden Holtby on a one-year deal for $2 million. While Holtby struggled last season in Vancouver and was bought out by the Canucks, he seemed like a good insurance policy. Yes, he's battled injuries, but he's only 32 and he won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018.
So, you had a bit of a longshot in Bishop, who you had to give a chance because of his contract, a seemingly healthy Khudobin and a rebuilding Holtby. Surely, they figured, at least one of the three would be healthy and perform well.
Bishop was given a chance to make his comeback. The 35-year-old had given the Stars three solid seasons of 2.33 goals-against average and .923 save percentage and he had a long-standing friendship with head coach Rick Bowness. The two, who spent a nice run in Tampa Bay, trusted each other and wanted to win for each other. In a perfect world, both wanted Bishop to lead the team into the playoffs this season.
But as the year progressed and Bishop tried to come back from his knee surgery, it became clear that wasn't going to happen. And after Bishop had a rough outing in an AHL trial, he decided to hang up his skates.
No harm in trying there, and Oettinger had stepped into the breach to take over, anyway. Oettinger was given the opportunity to test himself in the NHL when Holtby battled some injury issues and Khudobin posted a 3-4-1 record with a 3.63 GAA and .879 save percentage.
When Holtby was finally healthy, Khudobin headed to the minors. There, he discovered some injury issues and ended his season with hip surgery. Meanwhile, Holtby tried to play through some issues and was derailed by a lower-body injury.
Could the Stars have anticipated all of that? Well, they kinda did. That's why they had three veterans. But they really felt at least one would be healthy until the playoffs, and they felt any one of those three would be a good postseason option with their playoff experience.
As it is, Oettinger's the clear best choice right now.
The 23-year-old has endured a gauntlet of games and proven himself more than worthy. Does that mean he'll be ready if the team does make the postseason? Well, we won't know until we get there.
But the best way to make sure he's ready is to allow the coaching staff and Oettinger to work through the final 20 games in a manner that's best for gathering points and for making sure he's refreshed and ready to go. Adding Wedgewood helps a great deal with that.
GM Jim Nill said the perspective of Monday was sobering in that he had to find a goalie. Still, pushed into that spot - and with limited cap space - you have to say he scrambled pretty well. Wedgewood not only has a .911 save percentage with a porous Arizona team this season, but he's also a relaxed personality who's childhood friends with Tyler Seguin and has connections with several other Stars players.
Holtby was placed on long term injured reserve, and he still might come back, but if he doesn't, Wedgewood's a real answer. He understands his role, he's joining a playoff run for the first time in his NHL career, and he seems like the perfect fit.
"This will be exciting to be a part of," Wedgewood said. "I know a few guys here. They play hard, they've got a lot of skill, a lot of veterans here. They've been tough to play against every time I've gone against them. I just want to do what I can to help them make the playoffs."
That's sort of the plan for everyone, and as much as it's a plan that's had to change a few times, it seems like it could actually work out in the end.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
