Nikolai Khabibulin's Trial Postponed Again

by Derek Zona on Jul 21, 2010 4:00 PM MDT

Nikolai Khabibulin's legal woes will not be resolved until the end of September as his defense team continues to push for a trial by a jury. The judge today said that he would set a date later this week and if Khabibulin wants a jury trial, he will have to wait until September 29th. This sets up all kinds of interesting subplots for the Oilers.

Should Khabibulin fail to report to camp, Tyler at MC79Hockey thinks that there is a slight - emphasis on slight - chance that the Oilers may be able to get out of the contract for breach of contract. If Khabibulin is convicted, there are even more scenarios to consider - six months of jail time, thirty days of jail time, a felony that would prevent him from moving freely between the United Stats and Canada... the list is rife with possibilities for a very funny column by Ben.

There's always the possibility that Khabibulin sees the Long Term Injured Reserve list, seeing as how even his doctor says he's well behind schedule in his rehabilitation, though Steve Tambellini said that everything was just fine with "Nik". One thing is certain - the three-headed goalie monster is back in Edmonton. Khabibulin's uncertain status means that Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk will start the season on the roster with Khabibulin.

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What a mess.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 21, 2010 4:24 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

I have no idea what outcome I should be rooting for. No matter what happens, there will be plenty to write about.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jul 21, 2010 8:36 PM MDT up reply actions

I have no idea what outcome I should be rooting for.

The outcome I’m rooting for is for Khabibulin to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 21, 2010 9:18 PM MDT reply actions

What were the odds of Kovalchuk playing in the NHL at 44? Honestly, I’m “rooting” for Khabibulin to get convicted if he was in fact drinking and driving (which seems very likely). That the Oilers might benefit is a bonus.

by Scott Reynolds on Jul 21, 2010 9:37 PM MDT up reply actions

What were the odds of Kovalchuk playing in the NHL at 44?

About the same. A guy can dream though, can’t he?

I don’t see too many scenarios where the Oilers could benefit. Already we know that their goaltending situation will be in flux for the start of / much of / all of the upcoming season. I suppose it’s possible that Khabi’s in breach of contract, but I have my doubts that that’s something that will resolve itself quickly, or without a lot of hassle and distraction. Then there are the health concerns over and above that. It’s a mess.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 21, 2010 9:57 PM MDT up reply actions

If he doesn’t plead out of this, and I don’t see a plea in his future, and he’s convicted – Tambellini has to stop spinning, right?

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jul 21, 2010 11:09 PM MDT up reply actions

How can you cheer this guy now.

The police don’t stop you because they want to see your shiny black Ferrari. He was speeding! Police don’t ask you to do a field sobriety test because you admit to one drink. He was hammered!
No matter what happens in the trial I will have a hard time cheering for this guy. Well at least it wasn’t as bad as Mac T’s bender.
Go Duuuuuuuuuuuby. Eh that doesn’t work, makes me feel like an idiot Canuck fan.

by rexalljunky on Jul 22, 2010 11:37 AM MDT reply actions

Would you stop watching 2.5 men becauce Charlie sheen had to go to rehab?
Would you never cheer for Tiger woods because he had been unfaithful to his wife.

there are many such examples where stars are not perfect when it comes to their personal lives. If he comes back and plays well, I see no reason for not cheering for him.

If everyone thinks that a player is underrated, then he ceases to be one.

by SumOil on Jul 22, 2010 12:34 PM MDT up reply actions

the difference there is that being unfaithful isn’t against the law, and going to rehab is attempting to address a drug problem, which primarily self harm.

there’s a vast difference between those two examples and someone getting behind the wheel of a car while drunk, putting the lives of random strangers out on the open road at risk.

which isn’t to say Khabibulin is guilty. that’s for a judge or jury to decide. but if he broke the law in a way that jeopardised people’s lives, that’s orders of magnitude worse than Tiger Woods cheating on his wife.

by striatic on Jul 26, 2010 5:27 PM MDT up reply actions

So you’re against drinking and prefer Duby?

But yes, police do ask you to do a field sobriety test if you admit to one drink. I got stopped at a check stop a few weeks ago on my way home after having a nursed a single Scotch for a couple of hours, and of course I told the truth to the officer so he made me blow for the first time in my life, and the result came up 0.0. But the simple admission that I had been drinking was all the incentive he needed to apply the test.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 22, 2010 4:36 PM MDT up reply actions

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Northwest Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	54	34	15	5	73
Colorado Mile High Hockey	56	28	25	3	59
Minnesota Hockey Wilderness	54	25	21	8	58
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	55	25	22	8	58
Edmonton The Copper & Blue	54	21	28	5	47

(updated 2.11.2012 at 6:02 AM MST)

22 - 28 - 5

Streak: Won 1

Oilers Schedule

Next 5 Games

Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Wed 02/15	8:00 PM MST
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Fri 02/17	7:30 PM MST
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sun 02/19	7:00 PM MST
@ Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	Tue 02/21	7:00 PM MST
Philadelphia Broad Street Hockey	Thu 02/23	7:30 PM MST

Last 5 Games

@ Ottawa Silver Seven	Sat 02/11	OT - W 4 - 3
@ Detroit Winging It In Motown	Wed 02/08	L 2 - 4
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Detroit Winging It In Motown	Sat 02/04	SO - W 5 - 4
Chicago Second City Hockey	Thu 02/02	W 8 - 4