“I want to be here. I like here. I’ve been in California, I’ve been in Texas, I’ve been in Carolina, I’ve been in Minnesota. I’ve been in a lot of cities and a lot of states, and Boston is my favorite one,” Anton Khudobin said days after the Bruins season came to an end with a series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“That’s clearly, and it’s not because I want to give it a shot, or try to say I’m so nice, I’m going to just sign here. This is my favorite city. That’s the way it is. It doesn’t matter if I’m going to sign here, or if I’m going to go away or if I’m going to sign here. Boston is still going to be my favorite city.”

Well, something must have changed in the last month.

As the Bruins wrapped up development camp on Friday, general manager Don Sweeney met with the media where he provided an update on Khudobin and the Bruins backup goalie situation.

“I’ve stayed in contact (with the Bruins free agents), I think the [backup] goaltending one is probably going in a different direction at this point but I’ve stayed in contact with all of them" Sweeney told the media Friday afternoon.

After the Bruins and Khudobin failed to come to an agreement prior to the interview period window opening earlier this week, the chances of Khudobin returning were decreasing by the minute. Now, it sounds like the two have agreed to part ways.

Khudobin is coming off of a two-year deal that paid him $1.2 million each season. Khudobin was excellent in the backup role for the Bruins a season ago. The veteran backup appeared in 31 games where he went 16-7-7 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average.

In his second stint as the Bruins backup, Khudobin did more than asked and played some of his best hockey last season at a time that Tuukka Rask was battling through a tough stretch.

Taking a stab at what the issue is that prevents the two sides from reaching an agreement probably surrounds money. I would believe the Bruins were willing to give Khudobin a raise after back-to-back solid seasons in Boston, however, Khudobin feels he can get substantially more on the open market and he probably will.

When it comes to finding Khudobin's replacement, NHL experience is important to Sweeney. Very important actually.

"Very," Sweeney said. "Ranks right at the top of the list in terms of somebody that can, you know I think Anton did a fabulous job and we need to make sure that we’re satisfied in that area. That’s a priority for us."

Luckily for the Bruins, there are a handful of viable options available to replace Khudobin and provide similar production to what Khudobin gave the Bruins over two seasons. All of those options have plenty of NHL experience.

Robin Lehner, Jonathan Bernier, and Carter Hutton top the list of available goalies, but are probably less likely to financially fit where the Bruins need them to be.

The Bruins have shown interest in Hutton, but it doesn't sound like the two are a match as Hutton is looking to land somewhere that provides him with a chance to win a starting job. As much as the Rask haters would enjoy that, that scenario is not playing out in Boston.

Michael Hutchinson, Chad Johnson or Eddie Lack appear to be more doable names and a better price tag for the Bruins.

Replacing Khudobin from within doesn't seem likely as Zane McIntyre is not quite ready to be named a everyday NHL backup. At minimum, one more season of experience in Providence is needed for McIntyre.

As the Bruins patiently wait for John Tavares to make a decision on what his next move is, Sweeney and company have their hands full with finding a backup to Rask.

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