It was reported Monday by various websites that the Chicago Blackhawks have placed goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin on waivers. The former Stanley Cup winner has had an uncertain future in Chicago since the team decided to sign Cristobal Huet to a four-year deal over the summer. With goaltenders Jonathan Bernier and Jason Labarbera projected to be on the opening-game squad, is there room for veteran Khabibulin to join the mix?
The 35-year old Khabibulin has played for three different NHL organizations, most notably his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Khabibulin posted a .930 save percentage in the 2004 NHL playoffs, the year that the club beat the Calgary Flames in the Stanley Cup Finals. His last three seasons have not been as extraordinary though. Winning just 65 games in 160 opportunities, it is obvious that Khabi has not been held with such high regard in Chicago. After an injury-plagued first season that saw a lackluster 3.35 GAA, he has better numbers (2.75 GAA) over the last two seasons. But Nikolai is still believed to be a strong veteran goaltender, and that is something that the Los Angeles Kings are in desperate need of.
Last season, the Kings used six different goaltenders. As a result, the team finished 28th in the league with 263 goals against. The most used netminder was 28-year old Jason Labarbera, who recorded a 17-23-2 record with a .910 save percentage. That is not too shabby for a 79-NHL game veteran, but the team is still lacking someone who is reliable to put a great effort in every night.
The Kings have plenty of salary room to make this move too. Khabibulin will be earning $6.75 million this upcoming season, and the Kings currently have approximately $17.82 left in cap space. Bringing in the Russian goalie would still leave plenty of space for the Kings to bring someone else in for any other holes that they might like to fill in 2008-09. It is also important to consider that Khabi’s contract will be up at the end of this season, so there is no long term commitment to the aging goalie.
While Khabibulin has fallen off the charts just a bit since winning the Stanley Cup, he can still play the game with the best of them. Khabibulin is noted as being one of the best one-on-one goalies in the game, and with a young Kings defense, this could be a very valuable trait to have in your goaltender. Making Jonathan Bernier the back-up could prove to be successful for the future as well. Watching one of the league’s most valued goaltenders from the past ten years and learning on a daily basis from him might be a good way for Bernier to grow as a true NHL young star. Throwing Bernier right into the mix and expecting him to be a split starter with Labarbera may not be an effective move for the 20-year old. Putting emotional stress on a young goaltender could stunt his growth, not to mention end a possible illustrious career.
Khabibulin will be picked up by an NHL club whether it is through waivers or via trade in the coming weeks. It just depends on if the Kings want to be the ones to take the chance on him.
