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Stars coach Dave Tippett said he has no idea when he might play recently acquired goalie Johan Holmqvist.

There are all sorts of factors involved, like how No.1 goalie Marty Turco is feeling, how he is performing, and how the team is playing. Tippett might decide to use Holmqvist to give Turco a rest in back-to-back games this weekend against Colorado, but he's not even certain if he'll do that.

About the only thing Tippett is sure about is what kind of performance he'll get from Holmqvist.
Backup goalie Johan Holmqvist has practiced but he hasn't played since the Stars acquired him from Tampa Bay along with Brad Richards last week.


"He'll be ready whenever he's called upon," Tippett said Thursday.

After watching Holmqvist in practice for a week and getting the chance to talk with him, Tippett said he's impressed with the goalie who came over from Tampa Bay with Brad Richards last week in a deal for Mike Smith, Jeff Halpern and Jussi Jokinen. Holmqvist was a "throw-in" because the Stars needed a replacement for Smith, but the 29-year-old Swede is much more than a spare part.

"He's a technically sound goalie," said Stars goaltending coach Andy Moog. "He's big (6-3, 198), which is important in today's game. He's above average in his puck skills, and he's got great experience."

Holmqvist's resume actually makes him as good or better option than Smith for this season's playoffs – in case anything did happen to Turco. As a prospect in the Minnesota Wild system in 2002-03, Holmqvist led the Houston Aeros to the Calder Cup championship and was named the MVP of the IHL playoffs. He posted a 15-8 record with a 2.00 goals against average and a .928 save percentage in that run.

More recently, he helped Sweden win the gold medal in the 2006 World Championships. He posted a 2.00 GAA and a .909 save percentage in that tournament.

"He's done some very good things in his career," Moog said. "Things that make you think he has the potential to be a No. 1 goalie."

He served that role for the Lightning for the last two seasons. He went 27-15-3 last season with a 2.85 GAA and an .893 save percentage, but Tampa Bay lost in the first round.

This season, he has a 20-16-6 record with a 3.01 GAA and an .890 save percentage.

"You watch him for even a little while and you know he's a pro," Tippett said. "He has an incredible work ethic. I'm confident that when we decide to use him, he'll do well."

The biggest challenge for Holmqvist – and the Stars – is that Turco and Smith have been two of the best puck-handling goalies in the NHL for the last two seasons. As such, the defensemen and forwards play a style that pretty much requires the goalie to move the puck into certain areas.

Holmqvist said he's learning those requirements.

"We played a completely different style [in Tampa], so it is a bit different," Holmqvist said. "I handled the puck when we had to, but the players here are so much more aware that the goalie plays the puck, and that's the way it is. That's something I want to do ... and something I have to do."

Moog said he doesn't anticipate any problems.

"You're not going to see some of the advanced stuff," Moog said. "But as far as moving the puck to the defensemen, he'll do very well."

Now, if he could just get a chance to show that in a game.

"I'm just waiting," Holmqvist said. "Whenever they're ready."

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