Former NHL All-Star Unretires, Signs Pro Contract At 50 Years Old

Former All-Star and Stanley Cup Winning Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is returning to Hockey, signing a one-year contract with KHL squad Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. The move, first reported by HockeyNewsHub, was later confirmed by the team.

Khabibulin, 50, last played in the NHL in the 2013-14 NHL season in 4 games for the Chicago Blackawks. Khabibulin won a Stanley Cup for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, and was a 4x NHL All-Star. Internationally, Khabibulin is a former Olympic Gold Medalist, and won best goalie at the 2002 Olympics, along with a bronze medal.

Khabibulin has been Torpedo's Goalie coach, and prior had coached various Russian national teams for both the senior and junior ranks for goaltending.

Torpedo, 3rd in the KHL's Bobrov Division, has become one of Russia's most fascinating experiments since being taken over by NHL legend Igor Larionov as Head Coach in 2022. Under Larionov, Torpedo has been a successful team, with key youngsters Nikolai Kovalenko, a Colorado prospect, and Bogdan Konyushkov, drafted by Montreal, leading the charge.

Torpedo has also been noted for promoting young draft eligible talents, a rarity in the KHL, with both Anton Silayev and Nikita Artamonov being discussed as potential 1st round players due to chances being given in the pros under Larionov's leadership.

In 799 NHL games with the Jets/Coyotes, Lightning, Blackhawks & Oilers, Khabibulin has a career record of 333-334-97, with a 2.72 GAA and a .907SV%.