Nikolai Khabibulin is a Russian goalie on the Edmonton Oilers.
Khabibulin was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1992 and joined the team in 1994. He remained with the team as their starting goalie after they moved to Phoenix and became the Coyotes. He helped Phoenix reach the playoffs twice, before being traded to Tampa Bay in 2000. Khabibulin had been in the middle of a contract dispute with Phoenix and had not played in the NHL in the previous season.
In Tampa Bay, Khabibulin saw his career rebound, as he helped the Lightning win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2003. He also became the first Russian goalie to ever win the Stanley Cup. In 2005, after the lockout, he signed a four year deal with Chicago, and has been their starting goalie since then. Khabibulin had a solid year in 2008-09, winning 25 games in 40 starts, and posting a 2.33 GAA, helping the Blackhawks reach the Western Conference Finals. He was not re-signed, however, and was picked up by Edmonton to start for the 2009-10 season.
| Team |
Edmonton Oilers
|
| Position | Goaltender |
| Born | 13 Jan 1973 |
| Nationality |
Russian Federation
|
| Nickname | Bulin Wall |
| Team History | |
|
Edmonton Oilers
|
2009 - present |
Chicago Blackhawks
|
2005 - 2009 |
Lightning
|
2000 - 2004 |
Phoenix Coyotes
|
1996 - 1999 |
Winnipeg Jets
|
1994 - 1996 |
CSKA Moscow
|
1991 - 1994 |
Khabibulin played for Team Russia in 1992 and 2002, winning gold as a backup in 1992 and bronze as the starter in 2002. In 1992, his coach took Khabibulin’s medal for himself, and Khabibulin ended up boycotting most future international tournaments in response.
