Blackhawks pull off surprise by signing goalie
If the Blackhawks felt a need to upgrade their goaltending to be considered a Stanley Cup contender next season, it was a concern they kept to themselves.
After letting everyone believe they were content to let Nikolai Khabibulin start his fourth season as the No. 1 goalie and play 60 games, the Hawks pulled a shocker Tuesday by signing free agent Cristóbal Huet to a four-year deal worth $5.65 million.
Hawks general manager Dale Tallon claimed there were no immediate plans to trade Khabibulin. But if that's the case and Khabibulin and Huet start the season here together, the Hawks would have $12.3 million tied up in their goaltenders.
"I don't care about that because it makes us better as a team," Tallon said. "You can't win without goaltending."
Huet, at 32, is almost 4 years younger than Khabibulin and is coming off a far better season. Hunt was 32-14-6 with a 2.32 goals-against average and .920 save percentage with Montreal and Washington.
Tallon said Huet was OK with the knowledge he might be splitting time with Khabibulin.
"We didn't have to talk him into anything," Tallon said. "He likes the situation. He's very high on Khabibulin and looking forward to working with him."
Khabibulin, who turns 36 in January, was 23-20-6 last season with a .909 save percentage in his best season of three with the Hawks, although he still was plagued by too many soft goals.
Khabibulin has had difficulty fulfilling the expectations that came with signing a four-year, $27 million contract as a free agent in 2005. That had been the richest deal in club history until Tuesday when Brian Campbell's eight-year, $56.8 million contract surpassed it.
The four-year commitment to Huet also raised questions about Corey Crawford's future with the Hawks long term. Crawford has been considered the club's goalie of the future and Khabibulin's successor when the time came.
"We're still high on Corey Crawford," Tallon said. "We don't have to trade anybody."
Before signing Campbell and Huet, the Hawks traded left winger Rene Bourque to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.
Bourque played mostly a fourth-line role with the Hawks. His departure will open a roster spot for a younger player at training camp, with Tallon reeling off the names of Jack Skille, Troy Brouwer and 2008 first-round draft pick Kyle Beach as leading candidates.
"This gives some of our younger players an opportunity to play up front," Tallon said.
Even though the Hawks now are a few million over the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap, Tallon hasn't closed the door on re-signing unrestricted free agents Jason Williams and Kevyn Adams provided he can move another player or two via trade.
"We're capped out now," said Tallon, who has no money left at the moment to pursue free agents. "A lot depends on if we make a trade or two in the next few days to free up some space.
"We're still talking (to Williams). We think Willy and Campbell would be awesome at the points on the power play."
It was another frenzied first day of free agency with many of the bigger names signing including Wade Redden (Rangers), Mark Streit (Islanders), Brian Rolston (Devils), Bobby Holik (Devils), Darcy Tucker (Avalanche), Jose Theodore (Capitals), Ty Conklin (Red Wings), Olaf Kolzig (Lightning) and Andrew Brunette (Wild).