NHL Trade Rumors: Nikolai Khabibulin Soon To Be Available?

Is Nikolai Khabibulin available before the February 27th trade deadline? The General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers didn’t come anywhere close to shutting the door on the possibility.

“Nik is a proven goaltender who’s won a Stanley Cup. I don’t have any plans to move Nik at this point, but I’m sure I’ll get a lot of calls on a lot of different players,” said Steve Tambellini, according to the Edmonton Journal.

The Journal’s Jim Matheson suggests the struggling Chicago Blackhawks could be interested in bringing Khabibulin back into the fold, since the tandem of Corey Crawford and Ray Emery isn’t “stealing any wins” for the struggling club. Tambellini wouldn’t offer an answer when asked about potential interest in the veteran netminder from the Blackhawks.

Plus, due $3.75 million in 2012-13 the final year of his contract the 39-year-old Khabibulin might be too pricey an addition for the Blackhawks and others.

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