NHL: Khabibulin a Key Component for Phoenix Coyotes

By Sergey Kocharov Sports Central Columnist

As the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes is appearing to draw near end, part owner Wayne Gretzky will make two significant additions in gritty Claude Lemieux and all-star holdout goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

"Although my "counterpart" assumes that by adding a young net minder that was 32-23-7 with .923 save percentage and 2.13 goals-against average in the 1998-99 season will hurt this current Coyotes squad, I attend to keep an open mind," Gretzky said.

While Sean Burke has been stellar for Coyotes, earning October Player of the Month award, they are starting to see signs of falter. Burke has given up 13 of his 37 goals-allowed in the last three games, including few "beach balls".

Even though one might argue that adding "The Boolin Wall" to the roster will wound the chemistry that has been established between Sean Burke and the players, it to be very dense.

Let's put it this way. Do you really think that head coach Bob Francis will just hand Khabibulin the number one job, without some minor league playing time, devoid of some time to recuperate from the eighteen-month holdout, or will he lack to test and generate a competition between Burke and Khabibulin to distinguish who really deserves to be the starter? Of course the answer to all of these questions is no.

After all, during the stretch and mostly important come playoff time, Coyotes need a sizzling goalie between the pipes to win a series in the playoffs and end the famous streak at thirteen, and for that to happen coach Francis needs Khabibulin and Burke to create antagonism among the goalies.

Following a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to St. Louis Blues in the 1998-99 playoffs, Khabibulin was the talk around the valley with his tremendous performance in the post season. The optimism for this 26-year-old net minder was at the highest among fans, coaches and "hockey experts", and it will be thrilling to see this talent in goal once again.

"My counterpart and GM Bobby Smith would rather underestimate the mentioned, have Sean Burke, who owns 3.45 GAA in the playoffs take them to another first round disappointment," Gretzky also said.

But that will not happen this year, because help is on the way.

Article courtesy of Sports Central