The Bulin Wall — Stanley Cup champion goaltender and Russia's finest netminder of his era.
Nikolai Khabibulin was born in Sverdlovsk, Russia in 1973. Winnipeg Jets selected him 204th overall in the 1992 NHL Draft. His 16-season career produced 333 wins and 49 shutouts. He won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 — his performance in the playoffs was central to Tampa's championship run. He was selected to two All-Star games. He earned the nickname the Bulin Wall for his imposing presence and shot-stopping ability. His combination of athleticism and positioning made him one of the most reliable goaltenders of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He represented Russia at multiple World Championships and Olympics, winning silver at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. His 2004 championship came in what was the final season before the lockout that cancelled the 2004-05 season, making him one of the last pre-lockout Stanley Cup champions.
Stanley Cup (2004)
Career Honours
- Stanley Cup (2004)
- All-Star 2x
- Russian national team cornerstone