'08-'09 Season Review: Nikolai Khabibulin
by SamFels on Jun 2, 2009 4:17 PM CDT
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PrintWith the season now over after a return to the playoffs and the Western Conference Finals, we're looking back at each player who wore the Indian Head sweater for the 08-09 Season and grading their performance. First up, Nikolai Khabibulin
The Good: Well, 4th in the league in GAA and 6th in SV% is hardly anything you can insult. Khabby proved what we always thought he was, a goaltender who would flourish when not asked to shoulder a heavy load, and he wasn't, garnering just over half the starts. At times Khabby was brilliant, and at times, not so much. But, as has been his M.O., in a free agent year, he came up trumps in the regular season.
In fact, according to Behind The Net, Khabby was the 7th best goalie in beating his expected SV% and GAA at even-strength, which is based on the quality of shots he was facing (Huet was 2nd) Khabby's expected SV% was .902, but his actual was .927, and his expected GAA 2.64, but threw up a 1.94, again, at even-strength.
The Bad: Well, the whole fiasco in training camp looked ugly, but that had nothing to do with Nik himself. Past that, there were the injuries, specifically the ones in February which exhausted Huet, and then in the playoffs. But mostly what was bad were the playoffs. Though Khabby deserved the nod when Game 1 against Calgary rolled around, only his first period in that game, Game 6 against the Flames, and the 2nd period in Game 1 against the Wings were anything to excited about. Aside from that, he was only slightly better than ordinary. Cleary's goal in Game 1 was an absolute killer, and his inability to stone that same man in Game 2 hurt. No, we don't expect goalies to make breakaway stops, but it certainly helps when they do.
Nicknames: Nik, Nikolai Harvey Birdman.
Related Photoshops
Playoff Beard Strength: Wouldn't know, under a mask
The Grade: Well, that's up to you. From this observer, I'd say a B would be in order, for a more than acceptable regular season, but what has to be a disappointing postseason.
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Disappointing postseason?
I assume you mean due to his injury.
by Black Sox Baseball on Jun 2, 2009 4:21 PM CDT reply actions
A for Regular Season, C+ for Playoffs
Overall B. Not a bad season. Agree with most everything written. Very nice assessment. Not bad in the playoffs, but just couldn’t seem to come up with the huge save when the team needed it most, and like mentioned, let in a few killers.
Truth be told
I was expecting more out of Huet than Khabby. But Khabby was clearly better for longer stretches of the season. The defense in front of him was worse than he was.
He did his job. I give him an A.
WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE!
by Sec 326 Bureau Chief on Jun 2, 2009 7:48 PM CDT reply actions
I also grade him a B
I would make it a B+ because of the regular season. In the playoffs he made the good saves, and even some great ones. However he never made that exceptional save (Huet did, and you all saw it). If you want to win in the playoffs your goaltender has to make a few of those, and Khabby just didn’t. The grade of A is for exceptional and I don’t see it here.
Nothing smells better than burnt wings
IN OTHER REALLY REALLY GOOD NEWS
The Cup will not be lifted on Versus. The clincher (either way) would be on NBC on account of Pens win.
For this — and only this — THANK YOU PENS
WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE!
by Sec 326 Bureau Chief on Jun 2, 2009 9:37 PM CDT reply actions
Khabby had a very fine season
My hat is off to the man. He made amends for a couple truly wretched seasons wearing the Indian sweater. It will be interesting to see where he is playing next season. Something tells me the Phoenix Coyotes or whatever their franchise name becomes when they move.
Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...
what about
the whole Bulin Wall thing, not a nickname?
Anyway, I have to go C, there were just too many “soft” goals for a B.
SHOOOOOOOT IT!!!! Anon
Huh,
well, he didn’t say only “unofficial”, Committed, or homegrown nicknames, so I can see why I was lead astray and into sinners territory.
SHOOOOOOOT IT!!!! Anon
by burpchelischili on Jun 3, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions
It's a difficult task
not to grade him for his entire four years. Overall, I think his signing really had a positive impact on the franchise. It legitimized the Hawks as a team that was willing to get into the mix for top end names to improve. Of course, a FA frenzy isn’t (and never will be) the answer to building a competitive team. But the Hawks needed those few years to take the heat off of some of their cornerstones. I honestly believe Keith and Seabrook are where they are right now because Nik and other high priced “marquee” names took so much flak when the Hawks would mire themselves in their yearly 8-10 game losing streaks. So, overall, I hoped for a much better outcome coming in to this season. I don’t recall many, if any, games that Khabibulin stole in his tenure and he (likely) ended his career with the Hawks in the infirmary. I would have to go with a B+ for this season and a solid B for his days as a Blackhawk. That said, it’s time to get behind Huet and wish Nik well on some other team (except fucking Detroit).
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