Nikolai Khabibulin Nikolai Ivanovich Khabibulin ( ; born January 13 , 1973 ) is a Russia n professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He has previously played for the Winnipeg Jets , Phoenix Coyotes , Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks . He is often known by his nickname The Bulin Wall . Other nicknames include " The Nyet Minder " and " The First Tsar " . Khabibulin ' s abilities have been recognized with four appearances in the NHL All - Star Game and two Olympic medals . He became the first Russian goalie ever to win the Stanley Cup in 2004 , winning the title with the Lightning . Playing career . Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes . He was selected in the ninth round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets . In the 1993 – 94 season Nikolai played with the touring Russian Penguins and by the start of the NHL season in January 1995 was playing in the NHL . In 1996 , he moved with the Jets to Phoenix , Arizona , where they became the Coyotes . In his five seasons with the Jets / Coyotes franchise , he played in 60 games three times ( including two instances playing 70 games ) , a heavy workload for a goaltender . Although the Coyotes made the playoffs each of these years , some claimed that this heavy workload led Khabibulin to be fatigued for the playoffs , contributing to the team ' s failure to make it to the second round of the playoffs . After the 1998 – 99 season , Nikolai became embroiled in a bitter contract dispute with the Coyotes , and ended up holding out for an entire season . During this year , he played for the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League ( IHL ) , earning the league ' s MVP trophy . Tampa Bay Lightning . On March 5 , 2001 , Khabibulin was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Mike Johnson , Paul Mara , Ruslan Zainullin , and the New York Islanders ' second round choice ( previously acquired , Phoenix selected Matthew Spiller ) . He quickly signed a contract with Tampa Bay and by the next season , he re - emerged as a premier goaltender . Joined by superstars Vincent Lecavalier , Martin St . Louis , and Brad Richards , Khabibulin helped lead the Lightning back to the playoffs in 2003 ( their first appearance since 1996 ) and then to a Stanley Cup in 2004 — the first in franchise history . Khabibulin recorded five shutouts in 23 playoff games , including three shutouts in the first - round match - up against the New York Islanders ( tied for an NHL record for most shutouts in a playoff round ) . Unlike his time in Phoenix , Khabibulin could enjoy extended rest when needed due to the skill of his backup , John Grahame . During the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , Khabibulin was one of many Russian players to return to their homeland . From November 2004 , he played for Ak Bars Kazan in Kazan . Chicago Blackhawks . As the National Hockey League Players Association ( NHLPA ) ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement ( CBA ) , Khabibulin became a free agent when play was set to resume . Coming off his Stanley Cup win the previous NHL season , the Chicago Blackhawks signed him to a four - year , $ 27 million deal , making him the highest paid goalie in the league . But injuries and inconsistent play plagued him during his tenure in Chicago . In his first season with the Blackhawks , he recorded a 3 . 35 goals against average ( GAA ) — the highest of his career since his rookie season in Winnipeg — and Chicago finished second last in the Western Conference . In July 2008 , the Blackhawks signed goaltender Cristobal Huet , previously of the Washington Capitals . The signing of Huet was thought to have effectively displaced Khabibulin as the starting goalie , especially given he was put on waivers on September 29 , 2008 , but cleared . In light of Huet and Khabibulin ' s combined salaries ( Huet was signed to a contract averaging $ 5 . 6 million per season ) , it was speculated Khabibulin would be traded to provide cap space . However , he spent the entire season with the team , playing in 42 games , and by the start of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs , he had retrenched himself as starting goaltender . Khabibulin and the Blackhawks defeated the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks to progress to the Western Conference Finals against the Detroit Red Wings . During the third game of the series , Khabibulin surrendered three goals in one period , after shutting out the Red Wings in the previous period . He was replaced by Cristobal Huet for the third period due to a lower body injury . Khabibulin missed the remaining three games of the series because of the injury . Edmonton Oilers . On July 1 , 2009 , he signed a four - year deal worth $ 15 million with the Edmonton Oilers , replacing Dwayne Roloson as the Oilers ' starting goaltender . His Oilers debut on October 3 against the Calgary Flames was a blunder , however . While trying to field a clearing pass in the final minute of the third period , he mishandled the puck and gave up the game - winning goal to Flames ' right wing David Moss . On January 13 , 2010 , it was announced that Khabibulin will have surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back . He missed the remainder of the regular season . Personal life . On February 8 , 2010 , Khabibulin was pulled over by a police officer for surpassing the legal speed limit by 25 miles per hour . The officer noted various signs that suggested Khabibulin could have been under the influence of alcohol , and proceeded to administer a field sobriety test . Khabibulin was subsequently arrested and charged with speeding and impaired driving . On July 7 , 2010 , Khabibulin ' s court case was postponed . On August 27 , 2010 , Khabibulin was found guilty of excessive speed , extreme DUI , and DUI over the 0 . 08 level . On August 31 , 2010 , he received the minimum sentence of 30 days in jail , which is now pending appeal . International play . Khabibulin made his international debut with the Soviet Union at the 1991 European Junior Championships . He appeared in the 1992 World Junior Championships the next year and won a gold medal with the CIS , appearing in six games . Khabibulin and the national team had begun the tournament as the Soviet Union , but the state was dissolved following the round robin on New Year ' s Day , thus they proceeded to compete as the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) . That same year , Khabibulin appeared in the 1992 Winter Olympics with the CIS as the third goaltender . Controversy arose after the CIS captured the gold medal when legendary Russian coach Viktor Tikhonov kept a medal for himself ( coaches and management are not awarded medals in Olympic hockey ) instead of allowing Khabibulin to have one , as Khabibulin had not played a game in the tournament . This is speculated to be the reason for Khabibulin boycotting the Russian team in later international tournaments . Ten years later , at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City , Khabibulin was finally awarded his 1992 Olympic gold medal in a private locker room ceremony with teammates and the Russian Hockey Federation . After his second season with the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL , Khabibulin competed with Russia in the 1996 World Cup . He appeared in two games . At the 2002 Winter Olympics , in which the 1992 gold medal conflict was resolved , Khabibulin established himself as the national team ' s starting goaltender . He helped Russia to a bronze medal while appearing in six games . He appeared again in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin , but had previously been overtaken as Russia ' s starting goalie by the San Jose Sharks ' Evgeni Nabokov . Khabibulin did not play a game in either tournament as Russia failed to medal .