The Chicago Blackhawks went down to the wire trying to re-sign unrestricted free agent goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, only to lose him to the Edmonton Oilers, TFP has learned.
Sources tell TFP Khabibulin was looking for a two-year agreement the Hawks, who were trying to accommodate him by attempting to trade goalie Cristobal Huet.
Unable to find an immediate taker for Huet, the Blackhawks ran out of time and Khabibulin accepted a four-year, $15 million offer from the Oilers.
Heading into free agency, Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon said the team's top priorities were to re-sign Khabibulin and sniper Martin Havlat. Failing that, they would shift their focus elsewhere.
Negotiations between the Hawks and Havlat's agent, Allan Walsh, failed to gain any momentum in the days leading up to free agency.
Havlat was looking for a long-term deal. TFP has learned that Havlat's camp was asking for a lengthy contract beyond 10-years. However, the Blackhawks were concerned about Havlat's health and only presented a one-year offer.
Those close to Havlat, who signed a six-year, $30 million contract with the Minnesota Wild, say he's extremely disappointed with the way negotiations went down, and he appears to be quite upset with the Blackhawks.
"There's something to be said for loyalty and honor," Havlat wrote on his Twitter account.
"Excited to be in Minny where I was welcomed and appreciated by management. The real story about what happened in Chicago to come out."
