Edmonton Oilers Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin goes with sentence, drops plan to appeal –NHL News Update
Nearly one year ago during the summer time, Edmonton Oilers main veteran goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin, was convicted of extreme Driving under the Influence (DUI) and reckless driving in Scottsdale, Arizona by a state court to serve 30 days in jail.
Having filed a stay on the sentence, Khabibulin finally opted to drop his appeal and serve the sentence on Tuesday, July 26.
According to police, who arrested the 38-year-old hockey player last year in February, the accused was driving 70 miles/hr in a 40 miles/hr zone, along with taking a breathalyzer test which resulted in him having twice the legal amount of alcohol in his
blood system.
Khabibulin’s lawyer, Mark Dubiel, issued a statement which gave practical reason for the decision to go ahead with the sentence.
"By the beginning of July it became apparent that probably we wouldn't have a decision from the court of appeals until sometime in August and Nikolai felt that would jeopardize training camp and he did not want that to happen", Dubiel said about why the
Khabibulin would not appeal further.
Drafted as the 204th overall pick during round-nine of the 1992 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft by the then Winnipeg Jets, Nikolai Khabibulin has spent a colorful career so far in the major league. He has spent time as goalie with teams
like Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks and most recently, Edmonton Oilers.
The native of Sverdlovsk, Russia, still has two years remaining on his four-year contract with Edmonton worth $15 million. According to Edmonton Oilers general manager, Steve Tambellini, they are happy to have him on the team as long as he can play good
and stay healthy.
Being a player of his level, the Scottsdale City Prosecutor, Caron Close, termed it as nothing new and unusual for them.
“In Scottsdale, we deal with lots of people who have different types of status, so it was nothing new”, Close said.
Regarding the decision as a good one, analysts along with fans are of the view that Khabibulin made the right choice at the right time.
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