Nikolai Khabibulin signs four-year contract with Edmonton Oilers
2009-07-01 17:10:00
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers are turning to another veteran goaltender.
Edmonton signed 36-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin to a US$15-million, four-year contract on Wednesday. He'll replace 39-year-old Dwayne Roloson, who signed with the New York Islanders.
Khabibulin is a former Stanley Cup winner who spent last season with the Chicago Blackhawks.
"Nikolai is a world-class goaltender who has proven himself throughout his career as one of the best in the game," Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said in a release. "He has had success at many levels of hockey and we're looking forward to seeing him continue that success here in Edmonton."
Khabibulin compiled an impressive 25-8-7 record with a 2.33 goals-against average and .919 save percentage last season in Chicago. The Russian also missed time with a nagging groin injury.
He joins his fifth NHL team after stops in Chicago, Tampa, Phoenix and Winnipeg.
The Russian backstopped the Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2004.
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“I was coming in to take the boards away and had some good jump. He bobbled the puck at the last second and I don’t think he saw me coming at all. It was a shoulder right in his chest. He’s eight feet tall, so it’s not like you could hit him in the head.”
- Ottawa's Chris Neil about a hit he threw on Tampa's Victor Hedman Thursday night, causing Hedman to leave the game.
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