Nikolai Khabibulin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nikolai Khabibulin |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
_KHABIBULIN_(3994666853).jpg)
Khabibulin with the Edmonton Oilers in October 2009
|
|||
| Born | January 13, 1973 Sverdlovsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk CSKA Moscow Winnipeg Jets Phoenix Coyotes Tampa Bay Lightning Ak Bars Kazan Chicago Blackhawks Edmonton Oilers |
||
| National team |  Unified Team and Russia |
||
| NHL Draft | 204th overall, 1992 Winnipeg Jets |
||
| Playing career | 1994–2024 | ||
Nikolai Alexandrovich Khabibulin (born January 13, 1973) is a Russian former professional ice hockey goaltender. People often called him "The Bulin Wall" because he was so good at stopping pucks. He played most of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). His teams included the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Edmonton Oilers.
Khabibulin was also a star player for his country. He won two Olympic medals for ice hockey: a gold and a bronze. He was even named the Best Goaltender at the 2002 Winter Olympics. In 2004, he made history as the first Russian goalie to win the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was also the only Russian goalie to start in the Stanley Cup Finals until 2020. Khabibulin was chosen for the NHL All-Star team four times.
Contents
Playing Career
Starting with the Jets and Coyotes (1994–1999)
Nikolai Khabibulin was picked by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1992 NHL Draft. He started playing in the NHL in January 1995. In 1996, his team moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and became the Phoenix Coyotes.
During his five years with the Jets and Coyotes, he played in at least 60 games in three seasons. This was a lot of games for a goalie! Even though his team made the Stanley Cup playoffs every year, some people thought he might have been tired from playing so much.
After the 1998–99 season, Khabibulin had a disagreement about his contract. He ended up not playing in the NHL for a whole season. Instead, he played for the Long Beach Ice Dogs in another league called the IHL. He was even named the league's most valuable player (MVP) that year.
Winning the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay (2001–2004)
On March 5, 2001, Khabibulin was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He quickly signed a new contract with them. By the next season, he was back to being one of the best goalies in the league.
At the 2002 NHL All-Star Game, he played perfectly in the third period. He stopped all 20 shots he faced, helping his team win 8–5. Many players thought he should have been named the MVP of the game.
Khabibulin, along with star players like Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, helped the Lightning reach the playoffs in 2003. This was their first time since 1996. Then, in 2004, he led them to win the Stanley Cup, which was the first in the team's history! Khabibulin had five "shutouts" (meaning he didn't let the other team score any goals) in 23 playoff games. He even had three shutouts in one playoff series, which tied an NHL record. Unlike his time in Phoenix, he could get more rest when needed because his backup goalie, John Grahame, was also very skilled.
During the 2004–05 NHL season, there was a break in play called a lockout. Khabibulin, like many other Russian players, went back to his home country. He played for Ak Bars Kazan in Russia during this time.
Time with the Chicago Blackhawks (2005–2009)
When the NHL started playing again, Khabibulin became a free agent. The Chicago Blackhawks signed him to a big four-year contract. This made him the highest-paid goalie in the league at the time. However, he faced some injuries and didn't always play as consistently during his time in Chicago. In his first season with the Blackhawks, his goals against average (GAA) was higher than usual.
In 2008, the Blackhawks signed another goalie, Cristobal Huet. Many thought this meant Khabibulin would no longer be the main starting goalie. Even though he was put on waivers (meaning other teams could claim him), he stayed with the Blackhawks. He played in 42 games that season. By the start of the 2009 playoffs, he was back as the starting goalie. Khabibulin and the Blackhawks won their first two playoff series. They then played against the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals. During the third game, Khabibulin got a lower body injury and couldn't play the rest of the series.
Playing for the Edmonton Oilers (2009–2013)
On July 1, 2009, Khabibulin signed a four-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers. He became their new starting goalie.
His first game with the Oilers on October 3 was a bit rough. He made a mistake with the puck in the last minute of the game, which led to the other team scoring the winning goal.
In January 2010, it was announced that Khabibulin needed surgery for a back injury. He missed the rest of that season.
He started the 2010–11 season very well, stopping 37 shots in a 4–0 win. But injuries continued to limit his playing time. In the 2011–12 season, he had a great start in October. He had a record of 5 wins, 0 losses, and 2 overtime losses. His save percentage and goals against average were among the best in the NHL, earning him a "Third Star of the Month" award. However, his play slowed down later in the season. In the shorter 2012–13 season, his backup, Devan Dubnyk, became the team's main goalie. This was the first time Khabibulin was a backup goalie.
Back with the Chicago Blackhawks (2013–2014)
On July 5, 2013, Khabibulin signed a one-year contract to play for the Blackhawks again. This was his second time with the team. He was the backup goalie to Corey Crawford.
Khabibulin got injured in a game on November 16, 2013. He was placed on injured reserve the next day. He never played another NHL game after this hip injury. Khabibulin announced he planned to retire on November 13, 2015. He has also shown interest in working in hockey management.
Coaching and brief return to play (2023–2024)
After retiring from playing in 2014, Khabibulin stayed involved in hockey. He became a goaltender coach for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). On December 27, 2023, at 50 years old, he decided to un-retire and join Torpedo as a player. He trained with the team for the rest of the season but did not play in any competitive games.
International Play
 Khabibulin at the 2002 Winter Olympics. |
||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's ice hockey | ||
Representing Russia &  CIS |
||
| Winter Olympics | ||
| Gold | 1992 Albertville | |
| Bronze | 2002 Salt Lake City | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 1992 Germany | |
Khabibulin first played for his country at the 1991 European Junior Championships. The next year, he played in the 1992 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a gold medal with the CIS team. The team started the tournament as the Soviet Union, but the country changed during the event.
In the same year, Khabibulin was part of the CIS team at the 1992 Winter Olympics. He was the third goalie on the team that won the gold medal. Khabibulin is the last active player from Russia to have won an Olympic gold medal in ice hockey. There was a bit of a mix-up with his medal at the time. The coach kept it, and Khabibulin didn't get one because he hadn't played in any games. This might be why he didn't play for the Russian team in some later tournaments.
At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Khabibulin became the main goalie for the Russian team. He helped Russia win a bronze medal. He played in all six games and was named the Best Goaltender of the tournament. Also at the 2002 Olympics, Khabibulin finally received his 1992 Olympic gold medal in a special ceremony.
After his second season with the Winnipeg Jets, Khabibulin played for Russia in the 1996 World Cup. He played in two games during that tournament.
Khabibulin was called to play for Russia again in the 2006 Winter Olympics but missed it due to an injury.
Personal Life
Nikolai Khabibulin helped tennis star Victoria Azarenka when she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. His wife was friends with Azarenka's mother, and they decided to help her get settled. They have become close friends since then. Khabibulin's daughter, Sasha, is married to former NHL player Robert Nilsson.
Awards and Achievements
NHL
- Played in the NHL All-Star Game — 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003
- 2004 NHL Stanley Cup champion — Tampa Bay Lightning
- NHL 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs — Wins Leader (16)
- NHL 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs — Shutouts Leader (5)
- Tied NHL record for most Shutouts in a Playoff Round — (3)
International
- 1992 Winter Olympics (Ice Hockey) – Gold Medal
- 2002 Winter Olympics (Ice Hockey) – Bronze Medal
- 2002 Winter Olympics (Ice Hockey) – Best Goaltender Award
Other
- Won the James Gatschene Memorial Trophy (IHL MVP) in 2000.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1988–89 | Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk | URS | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Luch Sverdlovsk | URS.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Sputnik Nizhny Tagil | URS.2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | CSKA Moscow | CIS | 2 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 2 | 0 | 3.53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | CSKA–2 Moscow | CIS.3 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Metallurg Serov | CIS.3 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | CSKA Moscow | RUS | 13 | — | — | — | — | 491 | 27 | — | 3.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | CSKA–2 Moscow | RUS.2 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | CSKA Moscow | RUS | 46 | — | — | — | — | 2625 | 116 | 3 | 2.65 | — | 3 | — | — | 193 | 11 | — | 3.41 | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 23 | 9 | 9 | 3 | — | 1241 | 80 | 0 | 3.87 | .874 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 26 | 8 | 9 | 4 | — | 1339 | 76 | 0 | 3.40 | .895 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 53 | 26 | 20 | 3 | — | 2914 | 152 | 2 | 3.13 | .908 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 359 | 19 | 0 | 3.17 | .911 | ||
| 1996–97 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 72 | 30 | 33 | 6 | — | 4091 | 193 | 7 | 2.83 | .908 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 426 | 15 | 1 | 2.11 | .932 | ||
| 1997–98 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 70 | 30 | 28 | 10 | — | 4026 | 184 | 4 | 2.74 | .900 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 185 | 13 | 0 | 4.21 | .877 | ||
| 1998–99 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 63 | 32 | 23 | 7 | — | 3657 | 130 | 8 | 2.13 | .920 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 449 | 18 | 0 | 2.40 | .924 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | IHL | 33 | 21 | 11 | 1 | — | 1936 | 59 | 5 | 1.83 | .930 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 321 | 15 | 0 | 2.80 | .905 | ||
| 2000–01 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 123 | 6 | 0 | 2.93 | .913 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 70 | 24 | 32 | 10 | — | 3896 | 153 | 7 | 2.36 | .920 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 65 | 30 | 22 | 11 | — | 3787 | 156 | 4 | 2.47 | .911 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 644 | 26 | 0 | 2.42 | .913 | ||
| 2003–04 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 55 | 28 | 19 | 7 | — | 3274 | 127 | 3 | 2.33 | .910 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 1401 | 40 | 5 | 1.71 | .933 | ||
| 2004–05 | Ak Bars Kazan | RSL | 24 | 16 | 5 | 3 | — | 1457 | 40 | 5 | 1.65 | .926 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 118 | 6 | 0 | 3.05 | .846 | ||
| 2005–06 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 50 | 17 | 26 | — | 6 | 2815 | 157 | 0 | 3.35 | .886 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 60 | 25 | 26 | — | 5 | 3425 | 163 | 1 | 2.86 | .902 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 50 | 23 | 20 | — | 6 | 2891 | 127 | 2 | 2.63 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 42 | 25 | 8 | — | 7 | 2467 | 96 | 3 | 2.33 | .919 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 881 | 43 | 0 | 2.93 | .898 | ||
| 2009–10 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 18 | 7 | 9 | — | 2 | 602 | 55 | 0 | 3.03 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 46 | 10 | 32 | — | 3 | 1364 | 149 | 2 | 3.39 | .891 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 40 | 12 | 20 | — | 7 | 1114 | 100 | 2 | 2.65 | .910 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 12 | 4 | 6 | — | 1 | 684 | 29 | 1 | 2.54 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 168 | 14 | 0 | 5.00 | .811 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 799 | 333 | 334 | 58 | 39 | 45,607 | 2,071 | 46 | 2.72 | .907 | 72 | 39 | 31 | 4,345 | 174 | 6 | 2.40 | .917 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | CIS | WJC | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 289 | 7 | 2 | 1.45 | .907 | |
| 1993 | Russia | WJC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 340 | 15 | 1 | 2.65 | .917 | |
| 1996 | Russia | WCH | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 10 | 0 | 6.00 | .825 | |
| 2002 | Russia | OG | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 359 | 14 | 1 | 2.34 | .930 | |
| Junior totals | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 629 | 22 | 3 | 2.10 | — | |||
| Senior totals | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 459 | 24 | 1 | 3.14 | .904 | |||
See also
- List of NHL goaltenders with 300 wins
