Blackhawks take action, put Khabibulin on waivers

The Blackhawks have placed veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin on waivers.

Suspicions were raised Sunday night when Khabibulin didn't make his scheduled start in a preseason game against the Dallas Stars at the United Center.

Hawks coach Denis Savard evaded questions about Khabibulin following the game and raised eyebrows even more when he said he didn't know if Khabibulin would start Monday's game in Columbus.

Khabibulin is entering the final year of his contract and is scheduled to make $6.75 million. The Hawks would like to get that money off their books in order to use the cap space to acquire an experienced center such as Washington's Michael Nylander.

The Hawks are about $1,5 million under the National Hockey League's salary cap. They would be free of Khabibulin's contract should another team claim him.

The Hawks would also be out from under Khabibulin's cap hit should he go unclaimed and then be assigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League.

Khabibulin's exit has been expected ever since the Hawks signed goalie Cristobal Huet as a free agent on July 1 to a four-year contract.