Post by Jari on Aug 5, 2005 21:15:09 GMT -5
CHICAGO (AP) - Stanley Cup-winning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin signed a $27-million US, four-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, leaving the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Khabibulin played in 55 regular-season games for the Lightning during 2003-04, posting a 28-19-7 record with three shutouts, a 2.33 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
In the playoffs, he was 16-7 with an NHL-best five shutouts. His 1.71 goals-against average ranked second.
The 32-year-old Khabibulin is 209-187-58 in 476 regular-season games with 35 shutouts and a 2.61 goals-against average for Winnipeg-Phoenix and Tampa Bay during his nine NHL seasons. He is 31-25 with six shutouts in the playoffs.
"When we began this process, we targeted Nikolai Khabibulin and Adrian Aucoin as the two main players we wanted to sign," general manager Dale Tallon said.
Khabibulin skated for Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian Elite League during the lockout that wiped out last season, appearing in 24 games. He played for Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics, going 3-2-1 with one shutout and a 2.34 goals against average.
He will be missed in Tampa Bay.
"When Nik Khabibulin came to this franchise he put the legs under the team," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. "He gave us the opportunity to win day in and day out.
"Is it a setback? It is," Feaster said.
The Blackhawks might be able to move goaltender Jocelyn Thibault, who was tendered a qualifying offer.
Tampa Bay could use the money saved on Khabibulin to try to sign star forward Vincent Lecavalier to a long-term deal. Feaster said he plans to speak Lecavalier's agent on Monday in an attempt to keep the 25-year-old centre away from unrestricted free agency next summer.
"It's quite an offer, quite a contract that he received," Feaster said of Khabibulin's deal. "It's something that we couldn't match ... in order for us to try to what we have to do to keep this team together as much as we can."
Khabibulin played in 55 regular-season games for the Lightning during 2003-04, posting a 28-19-7 record with three shutouts, a 2.33 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
In the playoffs, he was 16-7 with an NHL-best five shutouts. His 1.71 goals-against average ranked second.
The 32-year-old Khabibulin is 209-187-58 in 476 regular-season games with 35 shutouts and a 2.61 goals-against average for Winnipeg-Phoenix and Tampa Bay during his nine NHL seasons. He is 31-25 with six shutouts in the playoffs.
"When we began this process, we targeted Nikolai Khabibulin and Adrian Aucoin as the two main players we wanted to sign," general manager Dale Tallon said.
Khabibulin skated for Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian Elite League during the lockout that wiped out last season, appearing in 24 games. He played for Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics, going 3-2-1 with one shutout and a 2.34 goals against average.
He will be missed in Tampa Bay.
"When Nik Khabibulin came to this franchise he put the legs under the team," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. "He gave us the opportunity to win day in and day out.
"Is it a setback? It is," Feaster said.
The Blackhawks might be able to move goaltender Jocelyn Thibault, who was tendered a qualifying offer.
Tampa Bay could use the money saved on Khabibulin to try to sign star forward Vincent Lecavalier to a long-term deal. Feaster said he plans to speak Lecavalier's agent on Monday in an attempt to keep the 25-year-old centre away from unrestricted free agency next summer.
"It's quite an offer, quite a contract that he received," Feaster said of Khabibulin's deal. "It's something that we couldn't match ... in order for us to try to what we have to do to keep this team together as much as we can."