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Khabibulin To Senators? - July 16th, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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Once the Chicago Blackhawks signed free agent goalie Cristobal Huet, it seemed Nikolai Khabibulin’s time in Chicago was about up. And that could be the case soon, as the Ottawa Sun is reporting a potential three-way trade between the Senators, Blackhawks and Kings.

Los Angeles would receive goalie Martin Gerber and defenseman Andrej Meszaros from Ottawa. Chicago would add forward Anze Kopitar, and the Blackhawks would move goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and one of two defensemen, Brent Seabrook or Cam Barker, to Ottawa. Some draft picks also could be involved.

This trade actually makes sense for every team. First off, the Senators are at a contract impasse with Meszaros, a restricted free agent who is said to be looking for a salary in the $3.5 million range.

The 22-year-old Czech was the team's seventh leading scorer last season and is the Sens' top puck-moving defenseman. But after losing Ray Emery, Ottawa really needs a No. 1 goalie, and Gerber, who is entering the last of a three-year deal that will pay him $3.7 million in 2008-09, has had his ups and downs as a Senator.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles defense could become a strength if the Kings add Meszaros to the likes of Jack Johnson, Matt Greene and 2009 second overall pick Drew Doughty.

And Chicago saves some money and gives Huet the top spot by getting rid of Khabibulin, who had his best season for the Blackhawks last year but has been largely disappointing since signing a huge free agent deal after leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning. Chicago is up against the salary cap because of the $12 million tied up in goaltending this season between Huet and Khabibulin, who is slated to earn $6.75 million in the final year of his contract.

 

Kopitar led the Kings with 32 goals and 45 assists last year and would give Chicago a stellar group of forwards, joining Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Martin Havlat, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd.

Interestingly, the Kings also are in the market for a No. 1 goalie to serve as a stopgap until top prospect Jonathan Bernier is ready, but apparently Khabibulin doesn't fit what they want.

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