Blackhawks sign Khabibulin to four-year deal

[E.T.]

Blackhawks sign Khabibulin to four-year deal

August 5, 2005

CHICAGO (AP) -- Stanley Cup-winning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin signed a four-year, $27 million 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.

The Blackhawks, who have reached the playoffs only once in seven seasons, have significantly improved their defense since the free agent shopping season began on Monday. Chicago signed former New York Islanders All-Star defenseman Aucoin to a four-year, $16 million contract on Tuesday. The Blackhawks also signed winger Martin Lapointe to a three-year, $7.2 million deal and defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to a one-year, $2.25 contract.

``I know our fans have gone through some difficult times, but we said that we would remain flexible and give ourselves a chance to improve our team under the new rules governing the NHL,'' Tallon said of the $39-million salary cap.

``We planned ahead with this day in mind and we are extremely happy that we were able to achieve some of our goals,'' he said in a statement.

Not only is Tallon a new hire but so is coach Trent Yawney as the Blackhawks have undergone a major makeover trying to erase years of bad hockey and small crowds.

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.

Feaster added that Tampa Bay will be looking for another goaltender either through the free agent market or by a trade. Khabibulin's backup with the Lightning, John Grahame will be given a shot to win the top job.

``John Grahame is licking his chops to compete for that spot,'' Feaster said.

The Blackhawks might be able to move goaltender Jocelyn Thibault, who was tendered a qualifying offer.

Chicago also signed free agent center Jim Dowd on Friday to a one-year, $525,000 deal. Dowd played in Germany last year after 13 NHL seasons with seven teams.

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 center 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.''

The Lightning signed defenseman Nolan Pratt to a two-year deal worth $625,000 per season on Friday.

[Markeymark]

He's almost irreplaceable. It's hard to go deep in the playoffs without great goaltending, and there are only so many guys who can take you there. Now we have to find another guy who can come up big when it counts.

[TripleB]

He's almost irreplaceable. It's hard to go deep in the playoffs without great goaltending, and there are only so many guys who can take you there. Now we have to find another guy who can come up big when it counts.

I guess it falls to Grahame by default, for now, because I don't think there any FA's at Habby's level out there. They supposedly have some good looking ones in the minors but that means we may be a few years away from a serious contender going deep in the playoffs again ................ and although it sucks for right now, I would have hated to see St Louis in another uniform. Should be able to keep both him and Vinny now.

[Markeymark]

I would have hated to see St Louis in another uniform. Should be able to keep both him and Vinny now.

True, they couldn't have kept all three unless the rest of the team was making close to bare-minimum.

It will be interesting to see how St Louis holds up now, I mean he's a little guy with a lot heart out there but how is he going to hold up in the next couple years when compared with Habby and Vinnie? He took a lot of punishment in the playoffs because teams started to figure out that he was the guy who made the team run.

[smazza]

i voted for that guy for governor