Blackhawks bring back Nikolai Khabibulin With Ray Emery headed back to Philadelphia, the Chicago Blackhawks found their new backup via a retread as well. Nikolai Khabublin signed a one-year deal with the team, according to CSNChicago’s Tracey Myers. The financial terms aren’t clear yet, but one can just about guarantee that “The Bulin Wall” took a massive cut from the $3.75 million he earned in 2013. While it’s reasonable to worry how well the 40-year-old can back Corey Crawford, Khabibulin seems to up his game when his contract is about to expire, last season included. Obviously a lot of variables can influence these numbers, but it’s still amusing to compare and contrast his contract year work to the season he endured before. Here’s a chronology: Winnipeg/Phoenix 1997-98: 70 games played, .900 save percentage 1998-99: 63 GP, .923 save percentage Tampa Bay 2002-03: 65 GP, .911 save percentage 2003-04: 55 GP, .910 save percentage … however, he won the Stanley Cup and had a .933 save percentage in the playoffs Chicago 2007-08: 50 GP, .909 save percentage 2008-09: 42 GP, .919 save percentage (stole fellow contract year beneficiary Cristobal Huet’s job) Edmonton 2011-12: 40 GP, .910 save percentage 2013: 12 GP, .923 save percentage Again, those numbers could be purely coincidental, and he’s had other strong seasons in his career. Still, if Blackhawks fans want a reason to feel better about the team signing an aging goalie who experienced some recent personal issues, his work in contract years might help.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 02:16:06 +0000
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