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Blackhawks secure Khabibulin

Stanley Cup-winning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin signed a four-year, US$27 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, leaving the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Khabibulin played in 55 regular-season games for the Lightning during 2003-2004, posting a 28-19-7 record with three shutouts, a 2.33 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

In the playoffs, he was 16-7 with an NHL-best five shutouts. His 1.71 goals-against average ranked second.

"I'm just going to try to do the best job I can and hopefully help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup," he said.

The 32-year-old Khabibulin is 209-187-58 in 476 regular-season games with 35 shutouts and a 2.61 goals-against average for Winnipeg-Phoenix and Tampa Bay during his nine NHL seasons. He is 31-25 with six shutouts in the playoffs.

The Blackhawks, who have reached the playoffs only once in seven seasons, have significantly improved their defense since the free agent shopping season began Monday.

"This is a big day, a great day for our franchise," general manager Dale Tallon said. "Nik was the number-one guy we wanted to get. We fought hard all week to get this done."

Chicago signed former New York Islanders All-Star defenseman Adrian Aucoin to a four-year, US$16 million contract on Tuesday. The Blackhawks also signed winger Martin Lapointe to a three-year, US$7.2 million deal and defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to a one-year, US$2.25 contract.

The biggest forward taken off the market on Friday was former Colorado left-winger Paul Kariya, who signed a two-year, US$9 million deal with Nashville.

Kariya had career lows with 11 goals and 36 points in an injury-plagued season that limited him to just 51 games in Colorado.
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