Khabibulin's Future Lies in Ottawa

Now that team cancer Ray Emery is safely an ocean away, the Senators are looking to upgrade their goaltending. Martin Gerber was a Swiss League Superstar. Unfortunately, the talented netminder has yet to achieve that status in the NHL. Ottawa should turn their attention to Nikolai Khabibulin.

After the prepostrious signing of Cristbal Huet, it appears that Nikolai Khabibulin's days in the Windy City have indeed come to a close. The Russian netminder didn't excell in Chicago. But that's more of a reflection to the team rather than the individual. He's had his brief moments as a Blackhawk. But injuries, inconsistancy, and team immaturity have combined to undermine Khabibulin's stay in Chicago.

He's a Stanley Cup winner, whose most memorable moments have come in the postseason. In '96, he singlehandedly kept the Jets alive. Though bowing in six, Khabibulin bedeviled the Red Wings. A future playoff star had been born. He fulfilled that promise in 2004. With all due respect to Brad Richards who was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, Khabibulin was the definative MVP. The Tampa Bay Lightning played a high-risk, wide-open style, often leaving Nikolai out to true. Make no misapprehension, Nikolai Khabibulin is the primary reason why classy Jerome Iginla doesn't have a championship ring on his finger.

The Ottawa Senators' dreadful second half left many unanswered questions. Some doubt whether this team was a contender at all. Relax naysayers. Though the team is nowhere near as talented as before, it still possesses a talented core. And a year without high expectations might be enough to let the team relax. There will be no ultrahot spotlight to wilt under this time. A top notch goaltender could bring Canada's Capital an elusive Stanley Cup.

Despite a healthy nine year hiatus between championships, Osgood proved this year that once a Stanley Cup winner. Always a Stanley Cup winner. If you have it in you to win it once, you can do it again. Sure GM Bryan Murray won't be thrilled at picking up the 6.5 million remaining on Khabibulin's contract. But it's worth the short-term gamble.